Seeing Slowly – Looking At Modern Art
“This book is a must read for anyone who cares about the past, present, and future of true art appreciation.”
— Saïd Sayrafiezadeh, author of When Skateboards Will Be Free
When it comes to viewing art, living in the information age is not necessarily a benefit. So argues Michael Findlay in this book that encourages a new way of looking at art. Much of this thinking involves stripping away what we have been taught and instead trusting our own instincts, opinions, and reactions. Including reproductions of works by Mark Rothko, Paul Klee, Joan Miró, Jacob Lawrence, and other modern and contemporary masters, this book takes readers on a journey through modern art. Chapters such as “What Is a Work of Art?”, “Can We Look and See at the Same Time?”, and “Real Connoisseurs Are Not Snobs,” not only give readers the confidence to form their own opinions, but also encourages them to make connections that spark curiosity, intellect, and imagination. “The most important thing for us to grasp,” writes Findlay, “is that the essence of a great work of art is inert until it is seen. Our engagement with the work of art liberates its essence.” After reading this book, even the most intimidated art viewer will enter a museum or gallery feeling more confident and leave it feeling enriched and inspired.
“Seeing Slowly encourages us to feel the work on our most immediate and felt perceptions: Michael Findlay asks that we sense a work of art, not intellectualize it. Findlay’s brilliant book opens us to ourselves and to the profoundly nourishing beauty of art.”
— Frederic Tuten, author of Self Portraits: Fictions and Tintin in the New World
“Written with the assurance and relaxed syntax of a friend talking to a friend”
— Sean Scully
“Writing in a highly accessible manner, Michael Findlay demystifies the experience of looking at art, explaining that there is no right or wrong way, and urging us to not be afraid of art.”
— Jens Hoffmann, Director of Exhibitions and Public Programs, Jewish Museum, New York
“Michael Findlay liberates us from the heavy baggage that usually comes with art appreciation. His book re-affirms that true engagement with art means discovering what the work of art means to us as individuals. This is, for me, the essential point that I will take away.”
— Véronique Chagnon-Burke, Director, Christie’s Education