Public Art in the Context of Urbanization: A Comparative Study of Tokyo and Shanghai

Abstract

Urbanizing cities use public art as a strong channel to express culture through which they acquire identity. The research investigates the cultural messaging within public art throughout Tokyo and Shanghai by understanding how city planners integrate artistic elements that display societal values and national histories and encourage community interaction. This research adopts a comparative method to examine visual and spatial elements and linguistic features of public art, which determine their social impact on the discourse and branding of cities. From a semiotic and sociolinguistic standpoint, the paper explores the communicative capabilities of public art and its role in sparking interactions between urban settings and the people that inhabit them. The study examines governmental policies combined with public reactions and the effect of globalization on artistic development across Tokyo and Shanghai. This research examines how public art enables Tokyo and Shanghai to balance their past heritage with their modern urban character by evaluating a detailed case study. The research findings expand the understanding of how public art functions as a crucial cultural representation tool for urban communication in international metropolises.