The Public-Art Publics: An Analysis of Some Structural Differences among Public-Art Spheres

Abstract

In this paper, I argue for what I define as the multiplicity thesis (MT). According to MT, there is not a single public of public art, but a multiplicity of them. I defend MT both as a descriptive and a normative claim. I explore different types of publics of public art that can be distinguished from one another in terms of their different sizes. I expand my analysis of the differences among separate publics of public art by considering temporary and enduring ones.

Keywords

• aesthetics
• philosophy
• art in the public sphere
• public art
• dialogic art
• public sphere
• public engagement
• temporary art
• durational approaches to public art
• habermas