Selfies at Art Exhibitions? You Will Miss the Point!

I love to see the art exhibition. Especially paintings. For me, it is always a magical moment. I can see the different point of view through the eyes of the artist. Mostly, the point of view of the artist is beyond my imagination. An artist has a way of expressing emotions, telling stories, and bringing beauty into the world. Its point of view spills over in their artworks, with a way that we can’t imagine before. It’s totally mind blowing for me. Through a rectangle frame hanging in the wall, it invites us to enter a different world. A world of infinite creativity. It invites us to merge into that world and leave our world behind. Sometimes I giggle, sometimes I feel desperate, sometimes I feel joy, sometimes I feel sad, sometimes I feel angry, sometimes I feel frustrated, sometimes I feel empty. Just to see the artworks, can create tons of feelings. And it’s such a valuable experience for me, that I would love to repeat as many as I can.

Recently, I saw the art exhibition from one of my favorite artists. It’s the one and only, Banksy. I know you are aware of this artist. He is very famous. But if you don’t know, here’s for your information only. Banksy is a pseudonymous England-based street artist, political activist, and film director whose real name and identity remain unconfirmed and the subject of speculation. (I got this from Wikipedia). Banksy’s art will always capture my mind. It’s simple, easy to understand, provocative in a humorous way to deliver the message about social, politics, consumerism, etc. And I’m lucky to have experienced it and dive into the world of him. But I’m here not to talk about art and my perception of it. Again, I’m not an expert. I’m only an art lover. An art enthusiast. I’m here to talk about something else that comes in one package when we visit the art exhibition. What is it? The Art of Appreciation.

I noticed something when I visited Banksy’s exhibition. It was different from when I visited most of the art exhibitions in my country. People see, enjoy, and appreciate art, properly. They dive into the world of Banksy’s art by looking at it, deeply. There’s no camera or a phone involved. They are really drowned in the world of art. And I found it satisfying and meaningful. As for me, indeed, it’s the most proper way to enjoy and appreciate the arts. Back in the art exhibitions in my country, I’m not saying all the people, but mostly. Especially the younger generation. I don’t know whether it’s the same in your country? I’m also curious. Maybe you care to share it with us? You are most welcome! Back to mine, They see the art differently. Instead of stopping and looking at it deeply, they turn their body. They take selfies with the art itself as a background. Sometimes with the selfie stick, blocking the art itself. They jump from one art to the others. Take selfies or pose in front of the arts. And then upload the pictures to the social media. Maybe it’s because they don’t understand what the artist is trying to say to us through their art. And it’s easier for them to just take a picture of it to feel connected with the arts. We can’t blame them 100%. It’s a result of the technology’s advances. As if the technology has its code for us, and without it we can’t interact with the world. We seek attention and validation from others to prove that we still exist. And to be honest, I’ve been there done that. It’s a shame. Until I realize that is not the proper way to appreciate the arts. But, rather than blaming technology, we must learn to appreciate the arts more properly.

I’m not saying it’s a wrong with all of it. Maybe it’s a fun way to enjoy and interact with the artworks. And by uploading it to social media, it’s the easiest way to make people interested in coming to the museum or art exhibitions. But, that is the only plus point of it. Nothing more. To appreciate the arts, we have to use our five senses. Look deeply into the arts using our own eyes, don’t represent it to our phone’s camera. And process it wisely in our advanced device, which is our brain. (Book : Going Offline – Desi Anwar).

There’s nothing meaningful than to see the arts by standing still, maybe with our heads tilted to one side, hand in our chin. Keep quiet, silent, try to dive into the artist’s imagination, emotion, passion, and energy. By keeping silent, we are glued to the lines, the brush strokes, scratches, colors, shadows, shapes, and objects in the paintings. We are getting closer to catching the essence of the stories, meaning, and mysteries behind it. To the artist’s thoughts. How they see this world with their unique and special way. And when we are able to catch it, maybe the way we see the world will never be the same again. That experience will enrich our mind and thoughts. Perhaps, we will question the way we see and understand the world, and even ourselves. It will help us to learn more about our life and ourselves. And at the end of the day, the world will be a beautiful place to live. As Banksy’s trying to tell us: “There is always hope” through his painting: Girl with Balloon.

Love,

Kirana