I'm a docent at the Art Gallery of Ontario in Toronto. We always aim to actively engage visitors with the artworks ( rather than boringly lecturing at people). From time to time, I will ask people what music they may choose to complement a particular painting or sculpture. I think I will now add smell!
Something that I often experience when looking at art is a type of visual/kinaesthetic synesthesia; visual art makes me move. I once had a gallery security guard approach me and very kindly tell me that I was doing it. He has the best data on how people interact with art.
Since then, in the presence of visual art, I like to ponder, ‘What is the dance of this painting? How does my body feel in its presence?’
But I also think about him and think, ‘What might bring the security guard joy or amusement today?’
This is so great! The timing couldn't be more cosmic either - I've just begun a story series that also takes into account otherwise never considered perspectives: each story aims to answer the question "what are statues looking at?" (https://rockstare.substack.com/) I love the suggested prompts here though and the idea of bringing the inanimate to life, there's so much room to play within it! Will have to give it a try!
I just submitted an "imaginary sounds" piece to the Sound of the Year awards. In it, I invite people to imagine what various "climate death rattles" sound like - e.g. the death of a glacier as its last fragment of ice melts away
This is a good one. Not exactly what she’s talking about but currently I’m researching a part of the San Fernando Valley called Panorama City for a novel I’m writing and while I usually focus on what I see I’ll try focusing on what I hear. Thanks!
Wow-- love this. I look forward to circumventing my "filters of expectation" more often!
I'm a docent at the Art Gallery of Ontario in Toronto. We always aim to actively engage visitors with the artworks ( rather than boringly lecturing at people). From time to time, I will ask people what music they may choose to complement a particular painting or sculpture. I think I will now add smell!
Yes! Very cool!
I love this!
Something that I often experience when looking at art is a type of visual/kinaesthetic synesthesia; visual art makes me move. I once had a gallery security guard approach me and very kindly tell me that I was doing it. He has the best data on how people interact with art.
Since then, in the presence of visual art, I like to ponder, ‘What is the dance of this painting? How does my body feel in its presence?’
But I also think about him and think, ‘What might bring the security guard joy or amusement today?’
This is so great! The timing couldn't be more cosmic either - I've just begun a story series that also takes into account otherwise never considered perspectives: each story aims to answer the question "what are statues looking at?" (https://rockstare.substack.com/) I love the suggested prompts here though and the idea of bringing the inanimate to life, there's so much room to play within it! Will have to give it a try!
I just submitted an "imaginary sounds" piece to the Sound of the Year awards. In it, I invite people to imagine what various "climate death rattles" sound like - e.g. the death of a glacier as its last fragment of ice melts away
Wow, that's a really engaging idea!
This is a good one. Not exactly what she’s talking about but currently I’m researching a part of the San Fernando Valley called Panorama City for a novel I’m writing and while I usually focus on what I see I’ll try focusing on what I hear. Thanks!
This in turn makes me think I should pay attention to the use of sound in novels! Excited to hear you're at work on one ;)