Well, of course they should. It's always possible that an impulsive child will touch a painting or sculpture without thinking, and it's always possible that the art work will be immensely valuable and need careful restoration.
But that very remote possibility is insignificant compared to the mental and emotional benefits that children get by experiencing art, especially from an artistic genre they're unfamiliar with - like abstract art or surrealism or cubism.
Galleries themselves usually give children a warm welcome and are happy to let them appreciate famous and valuable art works. They're very forgiving on the odd occasion that a child accidentally damages something.
Like the four-year-old boy who last year smashed a priceless 3,500 year old vase to pieces at a gallery in Israel. Far from being outraged, the Hecht Museum invited the child back to the museum with his family for an organised tour. And there was no question of the family being asked to pay anything towards repairing the vase.
In my experience gallery attendants are very quick to stop anyone (both children and adults) from getting too near the exhibits, so the chance of something getting damaged is pretty remote.
Pic: Gray, Orange on Maroon by Mark Rothko
I saw that story. Obviously, the gallery security was lacking, but where was the parent? The child must have been unattended for more than a minute to do such damage.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely, where were the parents? Were they just allowing their child to run around unsupervised?
DeleteNick, I'm more shocked by starving and dying children in all wars , from Gaza to Myanmar, Ukraine , Soudan and all the World conflicts where the most vulnerable lack any help than a damaged art work. I love Rothko paintings even if the indicated price of £40 millions seems crazy. And yes an accident in an gallery can always happen, but nevertheless children in galleries are a treasure , just listen to what they say and are able to feel and express when looking at art. Stunning.
ReplyDeleteHannah
Hannah: Well, of course my interest in art doesn't mean I'm indifferent to starving and dying children. The huge casualty toll of the current wars is appalling. Yes, a lot of children have an immediate understanding of art, as they bring no preconceptions with them.
DeleteI think they made too much fuss over the 'damage' to this painting, and the cost of repairing it was beyond silly. They should have let it be and allowed the damage to become part of its history. Nothing stays pristine forever.
ReplyDeleteChildren should be allowed into galleries.
Sx
Ms Scarlet: That's a good idea, just leave it as it is, scratch marks and all. As you say, they become part of its history.
DeleteI think art galleries should have priceless art behind glass where it can't be damaged.
ReplyDeleteMary: Some art works are covered in glass, some aren't. The protesters who threw paint at a Van Gogh painting in 2022 did no damage because it was under glass.
DeleteAnyone under the age of 16 should not be allowed. Under 10 is ridiculous.
ReplyDeleteI was at the National Gallery today and had to contend with hoards of school kids and their noise and teachers barking orders. Most kids are going to mess around and they just don't care about art. I know that I didn't when I was in school.
I think kids should go to playgrounds & libraries and stuff designed for kids. Places to play and perhaps read stuff at their level.
Art museums should really be spaces for adults, in my view. As a regular goer, I am tired of noisy youngsters and today's generation of parents have a blase attitude when it comes to boundaries and their children.
I also saw this news piece the other day.
Liam: That's a good counter-argument to letting in kids. My personal problem is not so much boisterous kids but overcrowding. I've been to art exhibitions where there are so many people crowding round a painting it's impossible to see it properly. But yes, as you say parents should be supervising their children's behaviour, especially around major art works.
DeleteNick, when visiting exhibitions you are part of the overcrowding.
DeleteL. Ryan has abstruse ideas and opinions . I remember when on one of your posts he spoke about the Israelis accent he loves to hear. As a Jew I still do not know what he is speaking about.
Hannah
Hannah: I'll leave Liam to reply to your comments about him! Yes, I'm part of the overcrowding, which is why I now tend to keep clear of the big well-publicised exhibitions and go to the lower-profile ones.
DeleteNick , I just make my comment about what he is writing on your blog. I'm not following his personal blog .
DeleteHannah
Oh Hannah, stop pretending you don't read my blog. I know you do ;) .
ReplyDeleteNick - I agree with your comments about overcrowding. I don't know what the answer is, but it can be very distracting. Its wonderful to go at the crack of dawn sometimes. I remember I was once the only guy at Venice's major art museum for at least an hour. All on my own. :)
Liam: It's a real pleasure to be in a less publicised exhibition and have the peace and the space to properly appreciate the exhibits.
DeleteL.Ryan you know me ? I never read your blog , I'm a nearly 80 year old woman. I saw your occasionel comments on Nick's blog. That's it.
DeleteHannah