Public art should not ape casino bling

A leading public artist hits out at projections, flashing lights and a superficial understanding of interactivity.
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Warren Langley’s glass and light artwork Poise in Melbourne. Photo David Hancock

Langley, who has created major glass sculptures in Australia, France, the US and Hong Kong says the demand for flashing lights and rainbow effects is an occupational hazard for artists working with light but he refuses to be drawn into the glitzy aesthetic. ‘It is a fine line between the casino and public art​,’ Langley told the recent AusGlass Conference, where he was ​honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award​.

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Gina Fairley is ArtsHub's National Visual Arts Editor. For a decade she worked as a freelance writer and curator across Southeast Asia and was previously the Regional Contributing Editor for Hong Kong based magazines Asian Art News and World Sculpture News. Prior to writing she worked as an arts manager in America and Australia for 14 years, including the regional gallery, biennale and commercial sectors. She is based in Mittagong, regional NSW. Twitter: @ginafairley Instagram: fairleygina