Experiment: Slow Art

Today I’m going to MoMA with a purpose: the challenge is to really look at a work. I mentioned a Slow Art event at MoMA a while ago. It asked participants to pick one or two works and just look at them from 15 minutes to an hour. I don’t think I can handle an hour–so I’m aiming for 30 minutes.

But now I have to choose what to look at for that long? I’m tempted to choose something in the Monet’s Water Lilies exhibition, because it will be big and pretty and I don’t know that I fully appreciate Monet.


I’ve also been checking out the permanent collection. Of course, I can’t go wrong with a Picasso. The collection has a magnificent collection of Odilon Redons–but they don’t seem to be on view. I love Klimt’s The Park, but I’m afraid I would get bored with it.


Of course, maybe I should choose something less well known. If they had Cy Twombly’s Four Seasons up, I know what I would choose (it’s another absolutely beautiful set of seasonal paintings.) I have quite the penchant for landscapes this morning. A portrait would also be a nice choice, because you could make up stories about the person. Ah well, decisions, decisions.

Anybody have any ideas?

4 thoughts on “Experiment: Slow Art

  1. I think I may try and do this tomorrow at the National Gallery. If I sit on one of their comfy couches in front a painting reading a book but looking at the painting for a total of 15 or more minutes over the course of an hour will that count? Or do I have to stare at it for 15 solid minutes?

    I would have to choose something figurative I think. Although I appreciate abstraction, I think I would need the detail to get me through.

  2. I chose a Monet–really for the comfy bench in front of it.

    Thomas, I think the point is to try to look at the painting for as long as you can and learn how it changes your experience of the painting, but whatever works. I think that sounds like a lovely morning too.

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