Roles of Public Art in Malaysian Urban Landscape towards Improving Quality of Life: Between Aesthetic and Functional Value

Public art defined as artwork that is placed externally in public areas and mostly accessible for public appreciation and viewing purposes. The public art practice involves collaboration of stakeholders, promotes a sense of community and contributes to a substantial public realm. Therefore, to investigate the aesthetic and functional values of public art in the local context, this paper reviews several public art projects in Malaysia, as reference studies; examines the various typology and roles of public art installation. The outcome of this paper is hoped to provide a better understanding of public art for better quality of public realm.