Sunday, 9 November 2014

How to behave during a gallery opening

During the latest gallery openings I wondered if there is a special way to behave during a gallery opening, as these events tend to be rather different from everyday life. And I think there is:

  1. Of course you should wear clothes you feel comfortable with, but in this case this should not be sweatpants and a hoodie. You will be surrounded by a lot of people looking kind of fancy. There is no need for you to look the same. But a shirt for men and a nice dress for women should work perfectly.
  2. Often no invitation is needed to enter. If you don't have an invitation: just walk into the gallery looking resolute. If you have an invitation: don't show it neither.
  3. Don't start your tour through the exhibition with the piece of art that is closest to the entrance. Step into the first room and take a moment to look around. Do you recognize a certain way the exhibition is organized? If yes, you could follow this way. If not, what grabs your attention most? Start with this!
  4. Read the wall texts or get an information sheet, which usually are placed close to the entrance. Especially when it comes to modern art you could be lost without getting some information about the artist's intention.
  5. Take as long as you like while you look at the art. Try to vary your closeness to the pieces as well as your perspective.
  6. After you had a look at everything, grab a drink (often water or wine in tiny plastic cups) and look at all the other people while they explore the exhibition--sometimes this is even more entertaining than the exhibition itself.

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