Page 10 | To be rude to this woman in an art gallery

hengelian · 2023-07-05T21:22:44+00:00

I was in an exhibition in a large London gallery today, totally engrossed in the art works. I was staring at a painting and a woman interrupted me to ask me to take a photo of her in front of it. I did it but I was quite off with her about it and probably a bit rude (said 'umm.. ok', took one photo and walked away, didn't ask her if it was OK etc). I find it really rude that she interrupted me in an art gallery - to me this is like being interrupted in the middle of a movie at the cinema. I was experiencing a whole thought process which she dragged me out of so she could have a photo of a work she didn't even properly look at. Art galleries aren't there for photos, they are there for you to look and experience. AIBU?

TheWalrusdidbeseech · 06/07/2023 12:02

I gave him the death stare & walked off. It's all a lady can do.

Or you could just ignore him and finish reading.

ifIwerenotanandroid · 06/07/2023 12:06

TheWalrusdidbeseech · 06/07/2023 12:02

I gave him the death stare & walked off. It's all a lady can do.

Or you could just ignore him and finish reading.

You do it your way & I'll do it mine.

Willyoujustbequiet · 06/07/2023 12:20

hengelian · 06/07/2023 04:15

If you were in a cinema watching a movie and someone came and tapped you on the shoulder and asked you to take a photo of them with the movie, would it bother you?

To me, this is no different. Art is a story. I'm not being pretentious and I certainly don't think I'm better than anyone else for appreciating art in this way, I was just experiencing it and enjoying that experience which I was rudely pulled away from.

Show quote history

Ridiculous comparison. A picture doesn't have a storyline that if you are interrupted you might miss the plot and you can't rewind lol.

You were rude. Get a grip.

FatherJackHackettsUnderpantsHamper · 06/07/2023 14:01

ARareKindaBear · 06/07/2023 05:58

You’d hate me OP … I took this in the Louvre 😝

Well that was a massive waste of effort on your part - they've already got one of their own there

ARareKindaBear · 06/07/2023 14:18

FatherJackHackettsUnderpantsHamper · 06/07/2023 14:01

Well that was a massive waste of effort on your part - they've already got one of their own there

Show quote history

😂😂 mines better though 🤣

Verv · 06/07/2023 14:20

So essentially, a woman saw you standing in front of something and asked if you would mind taking a photo.

Did you call 999?

LolaSmiles · 06/07/2023 14:22

Did you call 999?
I believe the Mumsnet appropriate response is to log it with 101.

ItsNotRocketSalad · 06/07/2023 14:23

I think the Mona Lisa must be the saddest painting in the world because no one ever looks at it anymore, they just snap it and move on.

I think the painting you were looking at was getting really self-concious at your staring and was grateful when the selfie woman interrupted you. Please be more considerate of shy paintings in future.

FatherJackHackettsUnderpantsHamper · 06/07/2023 14:29

I believe the Mumsnet appropriate response is to log it with 101.

Or to fight them off once and for all by threatening them with the (non-dishwashered) toilet brush of doom.

RoseGoldEagle · 06/07/2023 14:31

It’s nothing like interrupting you in a movie- the movie will have moved on without you, the painting is still there. Yes, she might have interrupted your train of thought, but surely you were able to go back to thinking about the paining again after the 30 seconds it took you to take the picture? It’s a public place, and honestly quite entitled to expect not to be interrupted by someone because it will spoil your ‘perfect moment.’

JulieHoney · 06/07/2023 14:48

I really want to know which is the uninterruptible painting, @hengelian .

Mostly I look and move on but some art works just draw you in and there’s so much to see. For me, Hopper paintings are like that sometimes, such a sense of narrative that I want to tease out. Dark Matter was another one I could spend hours with.

But I don’t understand why being briefly interrupted would bother you so much. The art work doesn’t stop being absorbing because someone spoke to you.

Wishimaywishimight · 06/07/2023 14:58

Of course it's not the same as being interrupted while watching a movie - don't be so ridiculous. The movie would continue during the interruption and you might miss something.

In this instance only your 'thought process' was interrupted. I presume you would still have access to your thoughts afterwards.

ZeldaWillTellYourFortune · 06/07/2023 15:02

Valeriekat · 06/07/2023 07:19

FFS it is an art gallery...that is what people are there for, to stand and look at the art.
I don't understand the need to disturb someone for a picture of themselves next to a painting?

Show quote history

I agree.

If they wanted someone to snap their photo, they should have located an employee, not pestered a complete stranger.

It's really amazing how little impulse control the general public has these days. Just because you 'want' something, doesn't mean it's OK to bother someone else to get it.

ZeldaWillTellYourFortune · 06/07/2023 15:04

willWillSmithsmith · 06/07/2023 09:03

OP is a real, authentic art appreciator not just some tourist riff raff on a day out. She feels the art more deeply than most and must not be interrupted from her arty reverie. I hope others in the gallery understood this and sensed her deep connection to the art, giving her the space and quiet she so obviously deserved. Art is exclusive, not for the common masses. Personally I think galleries should make you take an entrance test before allowing you in just to make sure you’re a genuine art snob 🙄

Show quote history

Ad hominem attacks are generally the refuge of people with nothing else to contribute to the discourse...

BodegaSushi · 06/07/2023 15:14

Orchidgal · 06/07/2023 07:50

Why are you asking OP?
There must be doubt in your mind or you wouldn’t be here?

A smug need to show everyone who superior she is for getting absorbed in art 🥴

BodegaSushi · 06/07/2023 15:19

Angelil · 06/07/2023 10:15

I agree. There is trenchant anti-intellectualism in Britain which frankly is one of the (many) reasons why I left the country. Heaven forbid that someone should actually have a brain or use it…

Show quote history

Where have you moved to? Intrigued about the intellectuality of countries

BodegaSushi · 06/07/2023 15:22

willWillSmithsmith · 06/07/2023 09:03

OP is a real, authentic art appreciator not just some tourist riff raff on a day out. She feels the art more deeply than most and must not be interrupted from her arty reverie. I hope others in the gallery understood this and sensed her deep connection to the art, giving her the space and quiet she so obviously deserved. Art is exclusive, not for the common masses. Personally I think galleries should make you take an entrance test before allowing you in just to make sure you’re a genuine art snob 🙄

Show quote history

I hope others in the gallery understood this and sensed her deep connection to the art

Clearly they didn’t, which is why OP came seeking the validation here

TheWalrusdidbeseech · 06/07/2023 16:00

ifIwerenotanandroid · 06/07/2023 12:06

You do it your way & I'll do it mine.

Show quote history

by all means, but only one of us seems to be disgruntled and angry about it, and that's not me.

ThisWOMANWontWheesht · 06/07/2023 16:20

ZeldaWillTellYourFortune · 06/07/2023 15:04

Ad hominem attacks are generally the refuge of people with nothing else to contribute to the discourse...

Show quote history

Isn't that what you're doing too with that comment? 🧐

Elleherd · 06/07/2023 16:42

I've read your posts rather than whole thread (will do later) so maybe someone already said this, but I used to be irritated by people walking up to pictures and taking selfies with them and not even looking at the work, or interrupting me drawing to ask for help getting a photo, but then I came to realize their prescence is keeping galleries in money that allows them to keep conserving, displaying, exhibiting, so now I smile and will break of sketching to help them if asked, and it no longer annoys me.

MyrtlethePurpleTurtle · 06/07/2023 16:48

Echio · 05/07/2023 22:45

YABU - I've worked in galleries the last 10 years.

Your way of experiencing an artwork is just one of many, and is not the 'right' way. There's no such thing. There's whole SWATHES of theory that say viewing in the way you describe is symptomatic of the worst aspects of capitalist culture.

All anyone who works in one wants is a visitor to have is a meaningful engagement with the art. What that means is very different for different people, for different art, different places, etc etc. Families with kids shouldn't be hushed as if the only way to enjoy and experience art is in silent reverence as if it's some holy icon. They can chat, laugh, tell stories, be animated, whatever!

Similarly, if someone wants a record of themselves with art that means something to them, that's a nice thing. Our phones are visual diaries nowadays. I'm not a selfie-taker but the half dozen or so I've ever done are in front of artworks that I've loved.

There's obviously a whole debate about selfie culture as a whole - needing to validate an experience by documenting it. When I went to the Louvre for the first time as an adult about 8 years ago I made the 'pilgrimage' to the Mona Lisa. I honestly couldn't believe what happened - everyone facing with their BACKS to this masterpiece so they could take selfies. It was unbelievable.

So, there is an issue in there, but that's not about galleries, that's about selfie culture.

In galleries, people should be free to engage how they want. Someone interrupted you in your engagement, but it clearly wasn't deliberately rude, and you could have gone back and looked again.

Interesting post, entertaining OP (and, yes, the Sistine Chapel sprang to mind)

kungfupannda · 06/07/2023 16:48

bruffin · 06/07/2023 10:11

Was it Frameless, its so much fun. Loved watching the little ones kicking leaves etc

Show quote history

Yes, it was! I enjoyed it far more than I expected - particularly the room with the dividers in for some reason. Very soothing.

SapphireSeptember · 06/07/2023 16:55

hengelian · 06/07/2023 08:19

If that's the case I should have been left to appreciate it how I wanted to. I was interrupted whilst deep in thought and I couldn't get back to that again afterwards.

Show quote history

Been there, although I was writing, not looking at a picture! I was minding my own business in the library when on old guy came along wanting to pick a fight with me and tried to push my stuff off the table. Apparently I was taking up too much room and I was being a selfish teenager. (I was in my late 20s at the time!) He then sat at the other end of the table and took up more space than I did with his newspaper. Couldn't get back into the flow, and was really pissed off. In hindsight I should have told one of the librarians. Utter cockwomble! I was impressed I didn't get upset, but stood my ground. He ended it with saying he didn't want to talk to me anymore, and I said he started it!

MyrtlethePurpleTurtle · 06/07/2023 16:56

SapphireSeptember · 06/07/2023 16:55

Been there, although I was writing, not looking at a picture! I was minding my own business in the library when on old guy came along wanting to pick a fight with me and tried to push my stuff off the table. Apparently I was taking up too much room and I was being a selfish teenager. (I was in my late 20s at the time!) He then sat at the other end of the table and took up more space than I did with his newspaper. Couldn't get back into the flow, and was really pissed off. In hindsight I should have told one of the librarians. Utter cockwomble! I was impressed I didn't get upset, but stood my ground. He ended it with saying he didn't want to talk to me anymore, and I said he started it!

Show quote history

How is that comparable? One is a benign request for a picture, the other an aggressive 'cockwomble'

ZeldaWillTellYourFortune · 06/07/2023 16:58

Not everyone considers a selfish interruption by a stranger to be 'benign.'