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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be rude to this woman in an art gallery

391 replies

hengelian · 05/07/2023 22:22

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?

OP posts:
WomanStanleyWoman2 · 05/07/2023 23:48

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.

Did they get set in concrete? If not, presumably they could have turned around after taking the picture.

Trinity65 · 05/07/2023 23:50

Duvetdweller · 05/07/2023 22:27

Were you screaming at it?

😆😆

ZebraDilemma · 05/07/2023 23:51

Pretentious….Moi?

Crushedrosy · 05/07/2023 23:57

YANBU. This craze for selfies in art galleries and museums memorials etc just makes me want to grind my teeth with rage.

electriclight · 06/07/2023 00:04

It's funny how minor events can provoke such an extreme reaction in some people.

It would take a lot more than a polite request for a photo to make me cross. Actually I'm usually flattered that I look kind, approachable and like someone who won't steal their phone.

Poor woman. Who knows what significance the art held for her, or who she was trying to share the experience with.

MsRosley · 06/07/2023 00:11

Precious, toi?

TheFireflies · 06/07/2023 00:19

Crushedrosy · 05/07/2023 23:57

YANBU. This craze for selfies in art galleries and museums memorials etc just makes me want to grind my teeth with rage.

Rage? What an overreaction.

I mean, I’d quietly judge someone taking a selfie at Auschwitz, but not in an art gallery. People engage with the art in different ways, the important part is they’re engaging. And how they do so is nobody else’s business. It doesn’t affect you at all.

ilovesooty · 06/07/2023 00:19

You might not appreciate art in the same way as that woman but since you agreed to take the picture it would have cost you nothing to be civil.

FluffyFlannery · 06/07/2023 00:29

Sounds like you think you’re something special.

nocoolnamesleft · 06/07/2023 00:30

I'm only here for the screaming comments.

ClairDeLaLune · 06/07/2023 00:37

I was experiencing a whole thought process Pretentious? Moi? Come on get a grip OP!

😂😂 at the screaming comments

ClairDeLaLune · 06/07/2023 00:38

Oops sorry @ZebraDilemma i accidentally copied you!

NumberTheory · 06/07/2023 00:39

TheFireflies · 06/07/2023 00:19

Rage? What an overreaction.

I mean, I’d quietly judge someone taking a selfie at Auschwitz, but not in an art gallery. People engage with the art in different ways, the important part is they’re engaging. And how they do so is nobody else’s business. It doesn’t affect you at all.

Show quote history

Selfies unfortunately do affect others as people taking them are particularly prone to standing so close they block everyone else's view.

ifIwerenotanandroid · 06/07/2023 00:42

There's whole SWATHES of theory that say viewing in the way you describe is symptomatic of the worst aspects of capitalist culture.

🙄What, no-one's supposed to look at art & think about it?

Cheztwix · 06/07/2023 00:43

You sound like you were getting off on a painting tbh.

RestingMurderousFace · 06/07/2023 00:46

🤣

toffeeappleglow · 06/07/2023 01:02

I wouldn't ask someone to take my photo in an art gallery, but neither would I worry that I'd essentially be interrupting a religious experience (or the viewing of a film) if I did.

FatherJackHackettsUnderpantsHamper · 06/07/2023 01:05

I'd have been half worried that she was going to whip out a tin of soup!

SD1978 · 06/07/2023 01:39

Damn it- too slow for the scream at the chapel......

TommyNever · 06/07/2023 01:51

Speaking as an artist, I'm happy to have people photographed in front of my paintings, as long as they're not blocking the best bits.

user1492757084 · 06/07/2023 02:04

You see Art Galleries just for immersing in the works; that's fine. Others like to take a photo.
You should be prepared for next time and reply honestly, something like ..

"No, sorry I can't, I'm involved in studying the art work."
Smile, keep looking at the pieces and refuse to be interupted from that pleasure.

EBearhug · 06/07/2023 02:08

It's really an intrusion. And I thought photos were forbidden in most fine art venue anyway; doesn't the flash damage the canvases?

Flash photography is usually banned, but phone cameras don't usually need a flash in the sort of lighting you get in galleries.

Some works will have a no photography sign and I've seen gallery attendants speaking to visitors about it, includingin the big London galleries. I was at an exhibition about a month ago with a visually impaired friend, and he likes taking a picture of a picture and enlarging the image to see details better - the staff were okay with this once he explained, if he wasn't saving the image, but they would have preferred him not to, because photography was banned for reasons of reproduction rights, I think. (They were actually pretty accommodating, to be fair, and emailed the large print copy of the gallery guide.)

I'm not against taking photos (if allowed) - I've done it myself, and with one friend, we have sent each other photos of works from exhibitions we've been to (can't talk art to everyone, so it's good to have friends I can.) I often buy the exhibition catalogue, so I can look back at the works I've seen, and taking photos isn't so different. I do get annoyed by those who want others to move out of the way to get a photo. I don't really get taking selfies beside art, but then I don't take many selfies anyway. And I can't imagine asking someone else to take a photo of me in front of art, either, but then I don't often speak to people in galleries at all.

So I think we all just appreciate these things in different ways. I can see that being interrupted when you're deep in thought is annoying, but it could happen for other reasons too - it's just one of those things when you're out in public.

chaosmaker · 06/07/2023 02:09

@hengelian totally with you. Why do people need photos of everything.. Much worse when you are watching a film or play with others filming it or having bright screens on. Life is ruined by people.

Crushedrosy · 06/07/2023 02:37

BiscuitsandPuffin · 05/07/2023 22:33

🤣
You have to scream at the artwork to truly appreciate it on every level, otherwise how will your ears experience it?

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😂😃😄 loving this!