Slow Looking Summer

Summer is officially here, and we are taking the opportunity to press pause and recharge with our Slow Looking Summer series, exploring the act of looking at art, s l o w l y – and the benefits this meditative practice can have on our health and wellbeing.

So, what is ‘slow looking’, we hear you ask?

Visiting a gallery or art fair can be an overwhelming experience – there’s so much to see, so little time! Research suggests we spend as little as 10 – 27 seconds looking at an artwork in these settings. The practice of slow looking seeks to counteract these speedy habits of ours: looking at a work of art slowly, for a longer period of time.

Taking the time to view art at a slower pace has a positive impact on the brain, triggering the release of feel-good chemicals like serotonin and dopamine. Can you try looking at a piece of art for a solid minute? How about five minutes? Half an hour?

Discover the works in the series

To help you start your slow looking journey, we’re taking a deep dive into the following artworks from our expert exhibiting galleries with a series of short films…

‘Memories II’ by Nicole Rose, represented by Gina Cross Art + Design

Take a journey through colour with ‘Memories II’ by Nicole Rose. Nicole blends digital media and oil painting to create rich colour field paintings. Let your eyes drift over their dreamlike qualities… how does it make you feel?

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‘Flat Iron Earth’ by Paul Kessling, represented by Cube Gallery

‘Flat Iron Earth’ is a gorgeous abstract painting by Paul Kessling. We reflect on his use of colour – how they spread and blend to capture the essence of landscapes in a fresh and unique way.

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‘Hag, Virago, Crone’ by Jess Quinn, represented by Kittoe Contemporary

Jess Quinn’s paintings are vibrant, colourful, and rich with meaning. She combines personal memories with actual events, drawing inspiration from fairy tales, folklore, and art history. Her work is packed with symbolic references, making it a perfect candidate to slow down and take in every little detail! We unpack her painting ‘Hag, Virago, Crone’, which featured in our International Women’s Day exhibition earlier this year.

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‘Wish Full’ by Hilde Trip, represented by Lucinda Dalton Gallery

Having grown up on a farm, Hilde Trip has a deep connection to the rhythms of nature. She is inspired by its limitless beauty and encourages others to see the natural world with fresh eyes. Join us as we take a closer look at ‘Wish Full’ – a beautiful artwork made from preserved dandelions.

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‘Movement 14 – Gyre’ by Ricky Bryne, represented by North London Printmakers

Ricky Byrne is a screen printer whose work focuses primarily on found archive material, subject studies and mixed media. In our series, we consider ‘Movement 14 – Gyre’, which is part of Ricky’s new colour fade collection. Each print begins as a spread of unblended colours and through the printing process and live mixing on screen they get worked together in an ever smoother blend…

‘Old Pool, New Pond’ by Tim Goffe, represented by Graham Hunter gallery

Tim Geoff is moved by the disquiet of the forgotten space. His painterly style is a balance of precision and expressive mark-making and has developed from his desire to translate fleeting moments of observed malaise into gorgeous oil paintings! We explore ‘Old Pool, New Pond’, appreciating his use of light and reflections.

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Here are our tips to help try slow looking for yourself:

• Try a different viewpoint – take a look at the work from afar for at least a minute or so, then move up close – what details do you see? How does the difference in perspective change your feelings about the work?
• Ask yourself – how does this artwork make you feel? What emotions does it rouse? What sights, sounds or tastes does it conjure? What about this artwork is causing you to feel this emotion?
• Trust your intuition – Allow yourself to embrace whatever comes into your mind. If nothing is coming, try another artwork. Slow looking is easiest when a piece really speaks to you.
• Quality not quantity – try being selective and look at only a handful of works, but explore each for longer.
• Don’t feel rushed – Unless a gallery, museum or fair is literally about to close, you have time. Enjoy your experience, and don’t feel rushed by the environment.
• Be curious – at our fairs, our gallerists and artists are on hand to share more information about a work, so you can rask the experts and really get to know a piece, inside out.

So, whether you’re jetting off on a sunny holiday, or simply enjoying time out with family or friends, we hope you can also find some time to recharge with art and practice slow looking this summer.

All works featured in our Slow Looking Summer series are from our community of expert galleries and artists, who you’ll find exhibiting at an upcoming Affordable Art Fair near you!