Gallery and the 'Gram

While images seem to overpower our everyday life, it can be difficult to distinguish between the real and the fake, or between art and advertisement. In turn, we can easily forget the difference between taking a photograph of our friends, versus taking a photo of something that belongs to someone else, and more specifically, something that someone else made. Art museums are a bit confusing when it comes to breaking this distinction. They all have different rules when it comes to personal photography, and at some, you are strictly prohibited to take photographs of any kind. The latter can be a tough pill to swallow if you’re an art lover like myself, or if you were just really hoping to get that artsy snapshot of your gallery visit. Previously, you may have asked yourself: “Am I allowed to take a picture of this?” If you consider yourself to be savvy on social media, you’ve probably considered the gallery’s lighting, and how you are going to place yourself, if at all, in the photo. All of these trains of thought are acceptable, but there are a few things you should take note of during your next artistic excursion.

First off, remember where you are and what your experience should be. Curators orient their careers around the viewer’s experience with a work of art. If a sign asks you to stand at a certain distance from a painting, do so. Try to go as close as you possibly can to admire the artist’s brushstrokes. Looking at a painting up-close is far better than even the highest-quality photograph. Similarly, if you’re invited to physically interact with an installation—take for example Teresa Carlesimo and Michael DiRisio’s a form of formlessness (2017), or Yayoi Kusama’s Obliteration Room (2002)—interact! Unfortunately, art museums carry a stuffy and formal stigma for some, so you may feel hesitant to get the most out of your experience. From now on, let go of those pressures. Document your interactions if you’re encouraged to do so. You’ll feel a connection, and you’ll make both the curators and artists happy—I’m sure of it.

Next, comes the important matter of crediting the artist. If you choose to take a photo of an artwork, be aware of the labour that the artist or curator put into it. With that said, it’s essential to credit the artist’s name or the gallery’s location if you choose to post something on social media. Not only does this allow your friends to check out the cool museums you’ve visited (that’s why tagged locations exist in the first place!), but it also allows the artist some well-deserved exposure and credit to their creation. By simply adding the artist’s name and title of the work into your caption, as well as tagging the gallery’s location, you become a well-rounded, cultured individual to your followers, and it lets the artist or museum feel even more appreciated. It’s win-win for everybody.

Although art galleries can be fun and exciting, they’re also institutions that hold priceless artifacts. For many visitors, they stand as places of meditation, reconciliation, and reflection. Think twice before you snap that selfie in front of a Van Gogh, or pose next to your girl, Frida. Consider these artworks and their stories. Consider their creators, their intent, and admire their place in the history of art. Understand that for someone else at the museum, seeing that Van Gogh painting may bring up some melancholic emotions. Even Mark Rothko’s famous colour-field paintings, for example, have been used in religious buildings for their spiritual impact.

With every art museum you visit in the future, whether it’s historical or contemporary, indoor or outdoor, it’s important to respect the art. Stand up-close, or admire from far away. Take a photograph, or don’t. Interact if the museum has asked you to. Ask questions and incite discussion. You’re standing amongst fragments of the world’s history, of stories, and of experiences. With that said, I humbly encourage you, from now on, to make the most out of yours.

By Austin Henderson | Photography by Kerenza Yuen