In the words of Mahatma Gandhi perhaps ‘there is more to life than simply increasing its speed.’ As the pace of our lives gets faster, research has shown that the average person spends just over 27 seconds looking at a work of art. What can we really see in a work of art in 27 seconds? What might happen if we were to spend a bit longer?
The Slow Art guided audio series is inspired by the movement of the same name, encouraging us to spend more time with art, discover something new and to see more – not just in the works of art we contemplate, but in the other moments of our lives as well.
Each Slow Art guided exercise can be used with any work of art and design at NGV. Before you start, choose an artwork that you would like to spend some time with. This can be a piece that you may be familiar with or one that you have never noticed before. Once you have selected your artwork, press play on one of the Slow Art guided sessions.
Find an artwork in NGV Collection online
Do you want to spend some more time with art, but don’t know where to start? This activity uses prompts and questions to help you spend time getting to know a work of art or design.
A Different Perspective: Japanese Aesthetic PrinciplesDo you want to try looking at art with a different perspective? This activity asks you to look a work of art or design through the lens of Japanese aesthetic principles to see how they add to your understanding and make you see things in a different way.
How Do I Look at Art & Design? – Slow Art For KidsThis activity for kids asks guiding questions and offers suggestions to help them spend time getting to know a work of art or design.