The first Ai Weiwei installation I visited was the five fences structure located on the windows of the Cooper Union Science and Art building. I found it very intriguing that the artist used the pre-existing building to present his public art. Ai Weiwei compares these fences to the social division that often relates directly with opportunity and social class. The way that the fences are incorporated into the building shows that social division is able to adapt throughout time.
The next installation I found by Weiwei was a lamppost banner that depicted a picture of a man who had arrived as an immigrant to the United States through Ellis Island. I love the used of positive and negative space, as well as the origin of this picture. A man working at the Bureau of Immigration, Augustus Sherman, took photographs of immigrants, due to his interest in their culture and diversity.
This banner was also created using a picture from Augustus Sherman, who took pictures of various immigrants from different backgrounds. I like the way that Weiwei depicts different immigrants from all around the world using the same format. The black and white theme, as well as the positive and negative contrast, allows each person to be depicted similarly while appreciating their origins and various backgrounds.
If I were to create a public art project that engaged the New York City community, I would create a wide variety of installments around the city with a common theme. I would use diversity and togetherness to demonstrate the city and the positive aspects of having this many people, with so many different abilities, in one densely populated place. I would create sculptures to be displayed around Manhattan, broadcasting the diversity of the city. I would have an installation involving puzzle pieces, to show how although we are all different and come from different parts of the world, we all benefit from each other and live peacefully in the same city. The one thing that I always loved about Manhattan was how busy it was, and how everyone was able to do their job without worrying about anyone else. Everyone lives in such close corners and is able to accomplish the world. I would use these concept in my public art, in order to engage the city and embrace the positive aspects of living in such a large and fruitful city.
Though I didn’t visit WeiWei’s street banners, I agree with you that it is difficult to spot such a casual and commonplace element of New York City’s streets. It uses many of the artistic qualities we saw in Sternberger’s works which merely displayed expressive countenances on pure and simplified backgrounds. I also appreciate your idea of creating a city-white public art project to embody the cultural diversity of NYC!