Tag Archives: Slow Art

Experiment: Successful

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My bench.

Or at least I was happy with the result of my slow art “experiment”– 30 minutes staring at one painting. I poked around the museum a bit, and eventually chose one of Monet’s Water Lillies. This was mainly because it had the cushiest bench in front of it. So I sat in the middle, put on some music to drown out distracting conversations, and looked.


And looked.

And looked.

It was actually quite interesting. I pondered over how Monet layered the paint and what his method of working was like. I tried to imagine what time of day he painted at. I’ve been to Giverny, and I tried to imagine him on that dark green Japanese bridge staring right down at the water. He really jams the water right up in your face, and without any kind of focal point. I grew to love the yellow at the edges, and to dislike the central purple area toward the right (it doesn’t recede as I felt it should).

What I really loved about the whole experience was how peaceful it felt, as if I had all the time in the world. It was like meditating, except a hundred times easier because I had something to look at. The time went surprisingly quickly. I realized I should do this more often, and not just with art.

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Experiment: Slow Art

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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?

To do: Slow Art

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Life can be frenetic in the city. Even when you go to one of the museums, it’s easy to rush around, especially as crowded as some exhibitions are (ahem, Vermeer). How long do you think you stand in front of a picture, on average? How about one you really like? Slow Art is a event happening this Saturday at MoMA that challenges you to smell the roses. Each person picks one or two pieces on view and just looks at them for a set period of time, from 10 minutes to an hour. Afterwards the group will have lunch at the museum cafe and talk about their reactions.

I love this concept. Even when I look at something I like, I probably stare at it for 2 or 3 minutes–especially when I’m surrounded by a slew of other beautiful things. My mom is in town, so I’m not sure what we have on the agenda for the weekend, but this one is up there on my list.
Of course, you could just challenge yourself next time you feel you are rushing things.