While links between art and education have long existed, it has become evident in the past twenty years that practitioners of each have become mutually concerned with integrating the two fields. The purpose of this survey is to explore the trend as seen from the perspective of different art world professionals. Today the questions are answered by Vastari CEO Bernadine Brocker. Vastari is an online platform that connects and promotes communication between private collectors and museum curators. Visit https://www.vastari.com for more information.
From your professional standpoint, what association do you see between art and education?
Though there is a guttural reaction that occurs with art, the only way Art can be truly appreciated is when the viewer is educated in the themes and thoughts that are occurring through it.
Should art aim to educate?
Yes. One of the best references throughout history is art. It teaches us what moved people at different times in history, it teaches us to appreciate other points of view and it is a great unifier between cultures.
Should the artist aim to educate?
Even artist who don’t aim to educate will reach someone in a way that enlightens - and that is the aim of art.
Which artists do you credit with your education?
Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo, Paul Gauguin, Carlos Cruz Diez, Cindy Sherman, Diego Siloe, Georgia O’Keefe and Rembrandt van Rijn
Is there a place for educational/pedagogical art in the art market?
I wish it was so simple as this question makes it. The art market is often driven by factors beyond us, and only time will tell what will teach us something. Did Rembrandt aim to teach with his art, or just make money? Probably more of the latter but his works are now great teachers of important lessons from history about the Dutch golden age or about the beauty of true love. There is no predicting what will happen.
Funnily enough I am currently in love with an artist’s work who is too educational for the art market, in some ways. Her name is Beverley Jane Stewart and she paints the history of Jewish culture within a contemporary context. Her works take years of research and are ultimately very complex tapestries of narrative she has found out - not an image that necessary works well over the fireplace. But I really enjoy her work and imagine it will be appreciated for its educational value for many generations to come.
Though there is a guttural reaction that occurs with art, the only way Art can be truly appreciated is when the viewer is educated in the themes and thoughts that are occurring through it.
Should art aim to educate?
Yes. One of the best references throughout history is art. It teaches us what moved people at different times in history, it teaches us to appreciate other points of view and it is a great unifier between cultures.
Should the artist aim to educate?
Even artist who don’t aim to educate will reach someone in a way that enlightens - and that is the aim of art.
Which artists do you credit with your education?
Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo, Paul Gauguin, Carlos Cruz Diez, Cindy Sherman, Diego Siloe, Georgia O’Keefe and Rembrandt van Rijn
Is there a place for educational/pedagogical art in the art market?
I wish it was so simple as this question makes it. The art market is often driven by factors beyond us, and only time will tell what will teach us something. Did Rembrandt aim to teach with his art, or just make money? Probably more of the latter but his works are now great teachers of important lessons from history about the Dutch golden age or about the beauty of true love. There is no predicting what will happen.
Funnily enough I am currently in love with an artist’s work who is too educational for the art market, in some ways. Her name is Beverley Jane Stewart and she paints the history of Jewish culture within a contemporary context. Her works take years of research and are ultimately very complex tapestries of narrative she has found out - not an image that necessary works well over the fireplace. But I really enjoy her work and imagine it will be appreciated for its educational value for many generations to come.
Can you name one artwork in the past year that you have perceived as being educational or having pedagogical components?
Just did. Another great way art can educate is by teaching people to appreciate technology. An artist from Israel, Liat Segal, works with social media and interesting wireless devices to explain how technology affects our lives and open everyone’s eyes about how we can make beautiful things inspired by the trends you can find online.
Where does art fail to educate?
Everyone has seen empty art. It doesn’t make you feel anything.
But also, art can fail to educate when there aren’t the means to understand what it represents. I look forward to seeing the next generation of audio guides. The leaders this generation are in my opinion the ones provided by the Royal Academy.
Have you recently identified any pedagogical trends (aesthetic, thematic, etc.) in art?
I love that new technologies are being used to teach what is happening in artworks. Take a look at what the Mauritshuis did for a re-attributed work by Rembrandt using interactive technology (“Saul and David”) or what the Musee d’Orsay did with the Artist’s Studio by Courbet or how the British Museum is using virtual reality to teach kids about the stone age. We can use technology to really teach everyone to appreciate the deeper meanings of works of art.
What key artists and/or institutions do you see working around the theme of art and education?
Every museum has an education department - and it is one of the most important areas of the museum, beyond the curatorial. One team builds the narrative, and the next creates the way in which it is interpreted. I really love the institutions that are working together on this. I have mentioned some of them above, but one place where this has been a trend since the museum’s founding is the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts, particularly because of their close links with the University of East Anglia’s curating department.
Just did. Another great way art can educate is by teaching people to appreciate technology. An artist from Israel, Liat Segal, works with social media and interesting wireless devices to explain how technology affects our lives and open everyone’s eyes about how we can make beautiful things inspired by the trends you can find online.
Where does art fail to educate?
Everyone has seen empty art. It doesn’t make you feel anything.
But also, art can fail to educate when there aren’t the means to understand what it represents. I look forward to seeing the next generation of audio guides. The leaders this generation are in my opinion the ones provided by the Royal Academy.
Have you recently identified any pedagogical trends (aesthetic, thematic, etc.) in art?
I love that new technologies are being used to teach what is happening in artworks. Take a look at what the Mauritshuis did for a re-attributed work by Rembrandt using interactive technology (“Saul and David”) or what the Musee d’Orsay did with the Artist’s Studio by Courbet or how the British Museum is using virtual reality to teach kids about the stone age. We can use technology to really teach everyone to appreciate the deeper meanings of works of art.
What key artists and/or institutions do you see working around the theme of art and education?
Every museum has an education department - and it is one of the most important areas of the museum, beyond the curatorial. One team builds the narrative, and the next creates the way in which it is interpreted. I really love the institutions that are working together on this. I have mentioned some of them above, but one place where this has been a trend since the museum’s founding is the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts, particularly because of their close links with the University of East Anglia’s curating department.