Overview
This three-day course invites you to take a mindful pause in your day, to come into the present moment and immerse yourself in the sensations of looking. Research shows that slowing down and looking closely at art through mindfulness can result in a deeper sense of aesthetic appreciation and wellbeing. Offering a different way to engage with art, this course brings together short meditation practices, mindfulness approaches and guided looking exercises for a restorative experience. Each session will begin by exploring a theme at the intersection of art and mindfulness. You’ll then be led through a sustained observation of one artwork, to encourage the development of focused attention and open up space for curiosity and wonder.
Included in the course is a 10-minute audio recording of a slow-looking practice for you to download and keep.
Learning Outcomes
• Ability to be more fully present with an artwork, while noticing what is going on in your mind and body as you look.
• Awareness of your habitual patterns for looking at (and thinking about) art, and the benefits of exploring your direct moment-by-moment experience
• Mindfulness tools to take into the rest of your day (and future gallery visits), to promote focus, creativity and sense of wellbeing
Image: Martino Pietropoli
