A Reflection on the Artistic Nature of “Public Art" from a Social Perspective: Focusing on the Phenomena of Works in Mainland China and Hong Kong

Currently, due to the ambiguous definition of public art in China, various art-related issues have emerged in society. This study aims to discuss the contradictions between the artistic and social aspects of public art in mainland China and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR), and to analyze the impact of culture and politics on artistic creation. Using literature review and case study methods, the study outlines the Western origins and the development trajectory of public art in China. Combining aesthetic theory and art history, it highlights the differences in the outcomes and models of public art development under the influence of local culture and political environments. The research shows that public art in mainland China is government-led, with political factors influencing and intervening, and the works tend to focus more on social effects and public functions. This phenomenon reflects the complex relationship between art and power. In the Hong Kong SAR, most public art exhibits commercial characteristics, with artistic creation relying on market forces and capital support, leading to a lack of independence. This commercialization results in public art works that are oriented toward market demand in both content and aesthetics. Based on the combination of theory and case studies, the paper explains that the criteria for judging pure art works lie in the reasonable integration of &quotmaterial factors&quot and &quotcontext,&quot under which the artwork produces truthfulness and serves the public. Finally, it is proposed that public art should retain its artistic attributes, questioning the current trend of excessive consumption and commercialization of public art, and calling for a reconsideration of the artistic rationality of current public art works.