SOME QUESTIONS
TO HELP YOU LOOK
FOR LONGERl Can you tell what the story/
subject matter is?
l What setting, time and place
is being depicted?
l What’s the mood? How
do you know?
l What do you think the artist
is trying to communicate?
l What does it remind you of?
How? Why?
l What drew you to the work
in the first place?
l Was it love or hate on first sight?
l Can you see if the artist was
concentrating most on skill or
ideas? What were these?
l How has the work been made?
l What else do you know about
the artist, or the time in which
the work was made?more. It can show us the beliefs, dreams, habits
and ideas of other people, societies and eras.
It can offer insights into human behaviour.
But don’t be hard on yourself and expect all
that instantly. At the very least, spending time
looking at art offers a pause: we step back, from
our inner worlds, worries and lives and, during
that time, we are beyond ourselves, away
from our day-to-day problems. Artists from
thousands of years ago to our own time have
had their own issues and included all that they
are, have seen and are going through in their
art. At its most extreme, haven’t we all felt like
the figure in Munch’s ‘The Scream’ at one time?
By looking at art, we can see we are not
alone. And as much as all artists are unique, so
is everyone’s experience of it. Artists make art
with the purpose of having people look at it; it’s
participatory, and although it can admittedly be
intimidating, it shouldn’t be. We, the viewers,
are just as crucial as the artists, and our
viewpoints, opinions and reactions are all valid.
So whoever you are, and whatever you know
or don’t know about art, here are some new
ideas to consider about ways to approach it.HOW TO LOOK
Go to a gallery or museum – any that you can.
Try visiting early in the morning or late in the
afternoon when there will be fewer visitors. If
you feel intimidated, look around and notice
that there are no ‘types’; art is enjoyed by
people of all ages, backgrounds and ethnicities.
There’s no right or wrong way to look at art.
You really don’t have to immediately ‘get it’
in order to appreciate it, sometimes it’s better
to mull it over. Any experience with any art
is worthwhile but take your time, this is slow
looking. Decide to spend at least ten minutes
looking at one work of art. If you’re with
someone, do this on your own, then meet after
to discuss. You might want to return after your
discussion and see what else you discover.
Don’t feel you have to head straight forgallery’s most famous work, choose anything
that catches your eye. Walk towards it, taking
it all in. Try and resist heading straight to the
label, and instead note its size, colours, what’s
around it, what impact it’s making on you.
What else do you notice? After about 30
seconds, look away and try to remember
everything you observed. Now look back at the
work again. What details did you remember?
What did you forget? What are your first,
overriding impressions? Walk closer. Now what
do you see? Think about shapes, lines, colours,
textures, composition (layout or arrangement),
materials and subject matter – if any of those
are relevant. It can help to focus your gaze
by asking yourself a few questions – there
are some ideas below.
Don’t just stay in one place – stand, sit or
move around the artwork, exploring it from »MINDFULNESSSOME QUESTIONS
TO HELP YOU LOOK
FOR LONGERl Can you tell what the story/
subject matter is?
l What setting, time and place
is being depicted?
l What’s the mood? How
do you know?
l What do you think the artist
is trying to communicate?
l What does it remind you of?
How? Why?
l What drew you to the work
in the first place?
l Was it love or hate on first sight?
l Can you see if the artist was
concentrating most on skill or
ideas? What were these?
l How has the work been made?
l What else do you know about
the artist, or the time in which
the work was made?more. It can show us the beliefs, dreams, habits
and ideas of other people, societies and eras.
It can offer insights into human behaviour.
But don’t be hard on yourself and expect all
that instantly. At the very least, spending time
looking at art offers a pause: we step back, from
our inner worlds, worries and lives and, during
that time, we are beyond ourselves, away
from our day-to-day problems. Artists from
thousands of years ago to our own time have
had their own issues and included all that they
are, have seen and are going through in their
art. At its most extreme, haven’t we all felt like
the figure in Munch’s ‘The Scream’ at one time?
By looking at art, we can see we are not
alone. And as much as all artists are unique, so
is everyone’s experience of it. Artists make art
with the purpose of having people look at it; it’s
participatory, and although it can admittedly be
intimidating, it shouldn’t be. We, the viewers,
are just as crucial as the artists, and our
viewpoints, opinions and reactions are all valid.
So whoever you are, and whatever you know
or don’t know about art, here are some new
ideas to consider about ways to approach it.
HOW TO LOOK
Go to a gallery or museum – any that you can.
Try visiting early in the morning or late in the
afternoon when there will be fewer visitors. If
you feel intimidated, look around and notice
that there are no ‘types’; art is enjoyed by
people of all ages, backgrounds and ethnicities.
There’s no right or wrong way to look at art.
You really don’t have to immediately ‘get it’
in order to appreciate it, sometimes it’s better
to mull it over. Any experience with any art
is worthwhile but take your time, this is slow
looking. Decide to spend at least ten minutes
looking at one work of art. If you’re with
someone, do this on your own, then meet after
to discuss. You might want to return after your
discussion and see what else you discover.
Don’t feel you have to head straight for
gallery’s most famous work, choose anything
that catches your eye. Walk towards it, taking
it all in. Try and resist heading straight to the
label, and instead note its size, colours, what’s
around it, what impact it’s making on you.
What else do you notice? After about 30
seconds, look away and try to remember
everything you observed. Now look back at the
work again. What details did you remember?
What did you forget? What are your first,
overriding impressions? Walk closer. Now what
do you see? Think about shapes, lines, colours,
textures, composition (layout or arrangement),
materials and subject matter – if any of those
are relevant. It can help to focus your gaze
by asking yourself a few questions – there
are some ideas below.
Don’t just stay in one place – stand, sit or
move around the artwork, exploring it from»MINDFULNESS