Works of art make a substantial contribution to cultural identification. When they are placed in a public place, this function is enhanced. However the artwork also acknowledges other tasks: it figuratively announces content in the traditional role, standing as the image of a ruler or at least serves as decoration, while in the Modern period they become increasingly space defining or shaping.

In this volume 500 projects are presented. Around 150 works document the history of this species of art. The development of contemporary art in public places during the last decades dominates Art in Public with about 350 examples. Succinct texts locating the work, the artist and the style, concentrate on what is special about the works and explain the effect they have every day on passers-by according to Paul Watzlawick’s axiom that “One can not not communicate“.
From the contents:

– Sphinx in Gizeh, Egypt, 2.700–2.600 bc.
– Trajan-column in Rome, Italy, 113
– Roland-Statue in Bremen, Germany 1404
– Albert Memorial in London, England, 1875 (George-Gilbert Scott)
– Citizens of Calais, France, 1889 (Auguste Rodin)
– The Endless Column in Târgu Jiu, Rumania, 1938 (Constantin Brâncusi)
– Broken Obelisk in Houston, USA, 1963 (Barnett Newman)
– Saurien in New York, USA 1975 (Alexander Calder)
– Sculpture Liverpool Street in London, England, 1987 (Richard Serra)
– Pre-Bell-Man in Frankfurt/Main, Germany 1990 (Nam June Paik)
– Human Structures, San Francisco, USA, 2008 (Jonathan Borofsky)
– Timeguards, Linz, Austria, 2010 (Manfred Kielnhofer)
http://www.van-uffelen.de/Editorial_office/-_Art_in_Public.html

Timeguards
Manfred Kielnhofer
“Guards of Time” relates to the idea that since the beginning of time mankind has had protectors, both for historic and mystical reasons. It seems that only man himself is a potential source of danger for his own existence. In his works of art Manfred Kielnhofer deals with the natural human desire for security. Thus his oeuvre reflects genuine exploration, consideration and discussion of current as well as historic moods and sensibilities of his social environment. His works of art captivate with elaborate combinations of light and different technique.

Manfred Kielnhofer was born in Haslach an der Mühl, Austria. He is self-taught and works with many different mediums; including, painting, film, photography, installation, performance and sculpture. His work usually concerns the human figure, and its different forms and movements, focusing mainly on the peculiarities of human nature. He uses the human form as a tool, either on a canvas or in a sculpture.
http://kielnhofer.com