Did you know museum visitors spend an average of only 15 to 30 seconds looking at a work of art?

Slow-looking is a mindfulness practice of spending an extended amount of time observing a single work of art. While slow-looking, you may notice more than you would during a quick glance as your understanding of the work develops over time. The goals of slow-looking include deepening observation, creating emotional connections, and finding personal meaning within works of art.

Why practice slow-looking?

- It increases your attention and mindfulness. 
- Find details that are easy to miss at first glance.
- Improve visual observation skills.
- Encourage curiosity and thoughtfulness.
- Create a more personal connection with art.

A typical slow-looking art session can last 5-10 minutes, but it can be shorter or longer depending on the person and the work of art. During that time, resist the urge to read the label, look for background information, or move on to another piece- take your time with the selected work of art.

As you look at the work, try asking yourself some of these questions:

- What did I notice first?
- What details emerge after a few minutes?
- What do the colors, textures, and composition affect me?
- What emotions or memories does this bring up?
- What surprised me the longer I looked?

Find a time where you can look at this image for a few minutes (you can click on it to make it larger!)

Try asking yourself some questions about the work of art:
- What did you notice first?   What did you discover after looking longer?
- What makes sense?   What confuses you?
- Do you like this work more or less the longer you spend with it?
- Since you are viewing this work virtually, what do you wonder about the physical qualities of this artwork?

 

Want to explore more artwork on campus and practice your slow-looking skills?

The GVSU Art Museum has tours on the Art at GVSU Mobile app specifically curated for slow-looking. 

Find a few minutes in your day to take a closer look at some of the artwork you might pass by daily- you may find details and personal connections you never knew were there!