Art Gallery Etiquette: Art Appreciation How to for Students
For many college and university students, the opportunity to go someplace to appreciate some of the finest work by this world’s finest artists is an absolute joy.
For others, however it is a perplexing and unrewarding experience. Here are some common questions answered in order to provide some perspective on what makes going to the gallery so rewarding and how to make it an enjoyable experience.
Art Appreciation Basics
What am I supposed to see when I see a painting?
Art has its own language, so instead of merely “looking” at a work of art, attempt to “experience” it. The Language of Art consists of color, line, space and texture. All of these elements are used by the artist to make a statement, or to create some kind of mood or express something the artist is feeling.
In experiencing a work of art, one needs to try and read the language of the painting, just as one would try and read a book or a magazine.
What is so important about colour?
Colour is a basic element of a work of art, and consists of three basic qualities: The Hue, which is the lighter or darker shade of a color, Brilliance and Intensity. When colors are combined with these qualities, the artist expresses their feelings, such as joy, grief or shock. What needs to be considered is why a certain color was used, and how it makes the viewer feel.
What’s with all the lines?
When lines are used, they are there to accentuate or lead the eyes to something. Horizontal lines have a calming effect, whereas Vertical lines are very ‘strong’ lines and Curvy lines suggest a rhythm and flow to certain pieces.
What is a mixed medium piece?
Mixed-Media is a 20th century art form in which different physical materials are combined together in a single piece of art. It is kind of like art’s own version of a multi-media presentation.
Can I touch it?
No. As tempting as it may be, try not to touch the works of art. Sometimes there are exhibits where participants are invited to feel the works, but that kind of exhibit is rare. Instead, simply look at the art, and think about how the artist created the texture on the work, and why it looks the way it does.
I don’t think I ‘get’ it.
A good piece of art will produce some kind of worthwhile experience in the observer. Not all art can create this experience in everyone, but one should be at least willing to take the time to look ‘deeper’ into the art and understand it. Good art tries to communicate attitudes, ideas, feelings or even the unique cultural experience of other people. A good artist will also try to advance the art world in presenting a new way of understanding a certain idea.
I don’t like it.
That’s okay. It’s a good response to disagree with what people think about certain pieces of art. Each viewer has a unique perspective on a piece of art, and being unique generally equals being different. Just try to see what the piece does to you as an individual.
I like Calendar paintings and Hotel paintings.
Those kind of paintings are great if they produce some kind of feeling in the viewer, but these kinds of art rarely have any value as a lasting piece of art.
What is Abstract Art?
This is a certain kind of art that represents reality in a different way than the way we normally see it. It also relies on the appearance that the piece looks like accident or chance. Many believe that it is the spontaneous nature of the artwork that inspires creativity and releases it from unconscious minds, so that people may live as more inspired beings.
What does Contemporary mean?
Contemporary art is generally from our own time period. A contemporary of an artist is someone that was creating art at the same time the artist was.
What is Figurative Art?
Figurative art is a form inspired by the visible world, as it takes visible objects as its base and distorts or changes them to convey their message. Most likely the base for the majority of these kinds of works is the human body.
Folk Art?
Folk art is generally created by people who have no real education or formal schooling in art, and instead reflect the traditions and values that were passed on to them in specific unique regions.
Narrative Art?
Narrative art is a piece of work that tells some kind of story. Historical paintings tell some kind of story about an event, and narrative paintings usually tell a story about everyday life.
How is Realism different from Photography?
Realism itself was first inspired by making an exact replication of reality itself. A movement in France in the 19th century was impacted by photography itself. This movement was started by artists who chose to paint the things that they saw around them in an everyday experience, and attempted to not romanticize those objects in any way.
Closing Thoughts
But most of all, be sure to appreciate art when you can. Just think about those who never have the chance to go somewhere to observe great art. Also try to think about those who may not even have eyesight, and will never get the chance to gaze upon anything beautiful. In understanding this, we may understand why vision, and what we look at with this vision is so important to our society.
T. Warner is a upper year english student at Queen’s University, in Kingston, Ontario. He claims that most old paintings and statues taste ‘dusty’ but will not elaborate on why he knows this. Copyright 2002 iamnext. May not be used without permission.
I really liked it when you pointed out that there is nothing wrong with not liking a piece as long as the person is polite about it because everyone has their own preferences. I will be sure to mention this because I have the tendency to voice things out without knowing, and of course, I do not want to hurt the artist’s feelings. My friend invited me to accompany him to an art exhibit, so I will practice the right etiquette.
You wrote: “Colour is a basic element of a work of art, and consists of three basic qualities: The Hue, which is the lighter or darker shade of a color, Brilliance and Intensity.” However, the hue of a colour is determined by the spectral (or ‘rainbow’) colour that it most resembles. So, for example a “dusty pink” may have a hue of red. The other 2 qualities are “value” (lightness/darkness) and “intensity” (purity/impurity).