How to visit an Art Museum

“Idema challenges us to shape our own view, rather than to necessarily agree with him. After all, sparking the right questions is much more inspiring than providing clear-cut answers.” – Wim Pijbes, General Director Rijksmuseum

The only way to understand art is to go to a museum and look at it, French painter Renoir suggests. But once inside, this is easier said than done. What do you do when the label simply reads “Untitled, 1973”? Where to look when a painting offers you a picturesque but undisguised view of a giant vagina? And how to react, when the museum guard stares at you for far too long?

How to Visit an Art Museum offers fresh perspectives on how to behave once inside the museum. Whether first-timer or frequent visitor, it shows you the sense and nonsense of museum etiquette. The typical museum behavior “Walk slowly, but keep walking” is seldom the most rewarding. That’s why this book encourages you to look outside the box and tackle the challenges that art presents to us by taking things into your own hands.

Find out how you can use museum guards to your advantage. Learn the rules of thumb to distinguish good from bad art. Explore how kids are able to offer you glimpses of the world that’s hidden behind an artwork. How to Visit an Art Museum shows you how a little courage and creativity can go a long way to making your museum visit truly worthwhile. Because ultimately, the art museum is what you make it.
– How to Visit an Art Museum is an accessible, fun and rewarding read
– A book full of tips and inspiring illustrations
– Read it and you will be surprised by how much more rewarding your next museum visit will be

Author Johan Idema (1973) is a passionate promoter of innovation. He works as an arts consultant, writer and cultural entrepreneur. In 2014 he was awarded an oeuvre prize as New Radical, changing the art world for the better.