Professor John Aiken, Chair Professor of Fine Art and Director of the Academy of Visual Arts at Hong Kong Baptist University, gave a lecture on the role that arts play in public spaces at UIC on 19 April.
He illustrated that arts and collective memory could generate and sustain successful public spaces by mentioning a number of national and international public art projects.
Aiken said that though the urban environment increased boundaries among high culture, popular culture and low culture, it provided a formal platform for different art styles and could raise the level of social engagement and awareness for diverse arts in public spaces.
The guest lecturer also mentioned that the purposes and functions of architecture could change during social changes, whose significance was sometimes neglected in the public spaces.
The lecture was organized by the Division of Culture and Creativity.
Reporter: Zeng Kaishan (CELL, Year 1)
Photographer: Lancy Zhang
Editor: Deen He
(from MPRO, with special thanks to the ELC)
