Have you ever asked yourself what makes good public art? Can art fit in natural environments?

‘Art Escapes’, a fantastic new illustrated book conceived, edited and designed by gestalten answers these very questions through some of the world’s best hidden art experiences outside the gallery walls. Unique sites, quirky sculptures, and maze-like outdoor installations flourish around the world. The most significant places are all featured in this great title.

“Art has the incredible power to connect us to the world and show us faraway places in a new light. As the way we view contemporary art shifts it is time to step away from the queues and crowds of the traditional art experience and ran into the extraordinary world of outdoor art.” author Grace Banks writes.

Going beyond the museum walls, the book explores unexpected art locations around the globe. From classic venues such as Yayoi Kusama’s giant pumpkin on Naoshima island, Prada Marfa by artist duo Elmgreen&Dragset which follows in the footsteps of Donald Judd who initiated the ‘park’, Jean Dubuffet’s unique magnum opus spectacular installation in the outskirts of Paris Closerie Falbala, to teamLab’s permanent museum in Japan, and the newly-opened Hauser&Wirth private gallery in Menorca, ‘Art Escapes’ explores all media and all continents.

Hidden murals by the likes of Le Corbusier in Cote d’Azur or Riccardo Chicco in Turin, Italy, and fabulous churches such as Matisse’s in Nice, Rothko’s in Houston, Jean Cocteau in Fréjus, and Sol LeWitt’s in Barolo for example, are all there. Have you ever heard of the Imagine Peace Tower in Iceland and the Digital Orca sculpture in Canada? These are further highlights to discover soon.

Through its entertaining selection, carefully-written texts and wonderful visuals, the book appeals to wider audiences, in similar way that these artworks attract wider visitors, whether travellers, art collectors and curious local residents. Author Grace Banks writes “Artists are inspired, children are entertained and learn that art does have to be boring, and ideas come to life. In short, everyone is happy.”

The book is dedicated to radical and beautiful artworks perfectly marrying with nature. Embedding art within forests, deserts and remote fields doesn’t have to be damaging, it can create harmony and beauty. That’s what ‘Art Escapes’ brilliantly demonstrates.

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Images:

p. 132 Credit: “Charles Jencks, Photo Allan Pollok-Morris / Jupiter Artland, Art Escapes, gestalten 2022”
Artwork: “Cells of Life”
p. 140 Credit: “teamLab, Photo Pace Gallery, Art Escapes, gestalten 2022”
Artwork: teamLab, Expanding Three-Dimensional Existence in Transforming Space – Flattening 3 Colors and 9 Blurred Colors, Free Floating, 2018, Interactive Installation, Endless, Sound: Hideaki Takahash
p. 242–243 Credit: “Shirin Abedinirad, Art Escapes, gestalten 2022”
Artwork: “Tide”