Nicole Junkermann: Art Begins With Looking Closely

Transcript

Art begins with looking closely. I follow exhibitions across Germany, Spain, France and the UK. Painting, sculpture and photography each leave a different trace. Look, understand, share.

Key points

• Close looking comes first, and opinions can wait until the work has had time to speak.
• Painting, sculpture and photography each leave a different kind of trace.
• The Art Review follows the same rhythm: look, understand, share.

Why close looking matters

Close looking is the thread that runs through every note on this site. A painting rewards a second and third glance as colour and texture reveal themselves, a sculpture changes as you move around it, and a photograph holds a single moment that can feel different each time you return.

Nicole Junkermann's three words, look, understand, share, describe a simple discipline: give the work your full attention, take time to understand what it is doing, then pass the experience on in plain language. The country notes for Germany, Spain, France and the United Kingdom follow the same order, starting with what is in front of the viewer rather than with reputation. It is an approach anyone can try on their next visit to an exhibition, with nothing more than patience and curiosity.