The boundary between Public Art and Advertising

I came across an article from 2017 that talks about how the difference between public art and advertising is becoming more and more unclear. The main example used in this article is 'The Fearless Girl' statue that was placed opposite the 'Charging Bull' statue in Manhattan. People were unsure what to think because the this installation was made for the asset management company State Street Global Advisors - and is believed to be a ploy to deflect attention form its misdeeds with feel-good corporate feminism. However, supporters of the piece argue that the statue's power to inspire young girls is more important than its corporate origins. The article then goes on to describe this statue as 'experimental advertising' - which involves reach audiences through public spaces in unconventional ways. Overall, I think the discussion on the differences between public art and advertising is interesting and something to consider when planning project 4.

https://www.citylab.com/life/2017/05/public-art-versus-public-relations/526746/

- Maha