As cities grow and evolve, public art can help build a sense of community while fostering a love of the arts, said sculptors speaking at a symposium in the capital.
"Public art is not something that just engages a space, but it makes the surrounding environment even more special by being a testament to a period of time, a moment or simple thoughts in beautiful creations," said American sculptor Jon Hudson Barlow, who specialises in largescale projects and has installed public sculpture projects in 23 countries around the world.
"Abu Dhabi has its own history to commemorate. It has lots of public spaces that need to be given more life. There are many things that are unique to this part of the world, particularly its culture and tradition and the development, of course," he said.
Barlow is one of 17 contemporary artists from around the world taking part in the six-week-long Abu Dhabi International Sculpture Symposium , which runs until April 5. All the artists will create works that will be displayed in public areas around the capital.
By definition, public art refers to art that is planned and brought to fruition with the intention of being shown physically in public in a variety of ways.
The artists presented their works and their thoughts that stemmed from the relationship between public art and community. Together they stressed that the concept is still at the nascent stage in the Emirates and will definitely get a boost with the ongoing symposium.
At the conference, Egypt's Ehab El Laban pointed out that unlike in the past, public works today seem to be missing in the community.
"There was a time when it was evident that works were being created in places of worship. But now we should be reflecting on what is being built architecturally; how the work fits in and how the architecture should fit. It can also follow the history of the memorial or monument – marking of a time," El Laban added.
"We must do all we can to foster the love for arts in the younger generation by making it a household thing in their lives, or in other words, making it public."
Abu Dhabi International Sculpture Symposium artistic director Salwa Zeidan, of the capital's Salwa Zeidan Gallery, said at the event that art must be for everybody, not only for connoisseurs. The forum and the symposium, she added, would allow both tourists and residents the opportunity to engage with art.
"People can observe the evolution of a sculpture as it goes from the conceptualisation stage through planning, carving, roughing, smoothing and polishing. And so we welcome everyone to come watch art being created throughout the symposium, and to meet this year's artists at special public events," Zeidan added.