Who better to interpret art than a Tassie comedian?
WANDERING into a quiet gallery space and viewing contemporary art can be daunting.
Many galleries are so quiet you could hear a pin drop. With staff looking on, comments are often uttered in a whisper, or erupt in an opinionated rant just outside the gallery doors (often still within earshot of the gallery staff or artists).
Ambling into an art gallery isn’t as much of a pastime in Australia as it elsewhere in the world, particularly in Europe. If you don’t know much about art, you might not feel comfortable casually wandering into a local gallery or state collection, even when it’s free to enter. You might not even realise it is free to enter!
What is there to say about art? And how should we talk about it? Art is a matter of personal taste. It’s OK to have an opinion, and you don’t have to like everything. Those trained in art may be able to read the work differently, thinking about it in the context of other artworks and art movements, or thinking about mediums or techniques. They might know ways of finding out about the artist’s intentions, such as looking for the artist’s statement or story about the artwork or reading the exhibition catalogue essay. But much art is best felt immediately; it speaks to us, as those in the artworld might
Amy Jackett
say. Kyung An and Jessica Cerasi’s book, Who’s Afraid of Contemporary Art? offers the promise of “decoding artspeak” and demystifying contemporary art. Armed with the right terms, one can be sure to impress on that fancy dinner date! But I’m not so sure that you need to be armed in this way. And I think the pressure to feel like you should be is part of the problem.
It all starts with giving it a go: stepping foot in a gallery, finding and forming your own connections to art, learning what you enjoy.
If you end up studying art, then you can start to explore and question why you’re drawn to these works.
You can be introduced to incredible historical movements and zealous manifestos and learn how to forge your own visual language.
According to several studies from the Louvre to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, people spend an average of 15-35 seconds looking at a work of art.
Being afforded the right and opportunity to vote for a People’s Choice Award in an art prize exhibition is a good incentive for people to spend more time deciding which artwork they find the most compelling.
I always enjoy looking at art with other people. I sometimes feel like I’m seeing the work differently when I’m standing next to someone else.
This year the Hadley’s Art Prize will host an exciting and novel exhibition event: Double Take — The Comedian and the Curator in Conversation, in which much-loved comedian and Logie Award winner Luke McGregor will accompany me through the gallery, along with event attendees, to discuss the art.
Comedians can say things we’re perhaps afraid or embarrassed to utter. They can make mundane moments laughable and cause us to see things differently.
Luke’s is a kind and curious humour. He enjoys art but has not received any formal training in art appreciation so he brings the responses to the artworks many people may relate to but not feel confident voicing. The audience will also have the chance to fire any questions or opinions at us about the art they see around them.
As someone who encapsulates the general public’s response to the art, Luke is also going to announce the winner of this year’s $10,000 People’s Choice Award, sponsored by the Mercury and the University of Tasmania, at the start of this event. It is sure to be a unique and enjoyable way to talk about the works and give confidence to those with an interest in art to find their voice.
Dr Amy Jackett is curator of the Hadley’s Art Prize, Australia’s most lucrative landscape art prize. The Finalists’ Exhibition is at Hadley’s Orient Hotel until Sunday. Tickets to Saturday’s Double Take are available at www.hadleysartprize.com.au