by Leslie Thompson | 15 June 2010 | Museums
I recently ventured to the Nasher Sculpture Center in Dallas to view the Rachel Whiteread exhibition, the first museum retrospective of her drawings. Immediately upon entering the gallery, I felt uncomfortable. What is bothering me about this show? Is it the layout, the work, the theme? Then it dawned on me: it’s the lighting! When exhibiting drawings, museums must use very low lighting. All of the windows and ceilings (which is basically one large skylight) were covered. I am accustomed to the bright, open spaces at the Nasher. In a way, it had felt like life had been eradicated from the galleries.
Environment has such a large impact on how the viewer experiences a work of art. Just as Whiteread uses her drawings to help her “choreograph a space,” a museum uses the gallery space to facilitate one’s reception of an exhibition. Should my appreciation be unwavering? Or do we all succumb to the power of the museum?
“Should my appreciation be unwavering?”
Absolutely not.
“Or do we all succumb to the power of the museum?”
Yes, if we want to see the art.
I love museums. I visit them often.
I’ve once seen the same show at two separate museums and noticed the difference between my experiences with each space. I enjoyed the exhibition at one museum but could do without at the other.