Experience more art online

In unprecedented times, cultural organizations facing temporary closure are making more art content available online. Here, we share a selection to explore from home:

How does Mark Bradford think artists can shape society? And why is community so important to Marina Abramović? Presented by UBS and the Fondation Beyeler, Artist Talks are interviews with leading contemporary artists from around the world – each sharing insight into their creative process, lives and seminal works from across their careers. Artists featured include Miquel Barceló, Ernesto Neto, Georg Baselitz and Rudolf Stingel.

Leading contemporary artists, including William Kentridge and Takashi Murakami, are also the focus of films developed by the Art Gallery of New South Wales. The institution’s extensive archive also includes artist studio visits, lectures and historical guides. On Instagram, ‘The Great Women Artists’ – the brainchild of curator, writer and art historian Katie Hessel – is hosting live conversations with female artists, including those whose forthcoming exhibitions have been impacted by the closures.

Technology has made it possible to glimpse inside the world’s best-loved art institutions without leaving home. Google Arts & Culture features content from over 2,000 leading museums and archives, who have partnered with the platform to make their collections available online. Virtual tours allow you to visit institutions from The British Museum in London, to the Musée d’Orsay in Paris – taking in some of the world’s most celebrated masterpieces.

Other institutions offering virtual tours include the Solomon R. Guggenheim in New York, which has launched ‘Guggenheim at Large’ – an initiative built on a belief that, ‘in uncertain times such as these, art can provide both solace and inspiration.’ Visitors can explore Frank Lloyd Wright’s architectural masterpiece through an online gallery, and a podcast on its design and history. Iconic works from its collection are available to browse, with stories and insights that bring each to life.

Hong Kong’s M+ Museum has launched M+ Collections – a platform which allows visitors to browse more than 5,000 objects from its collection. This vast online inventory can be searched by theme or artist: we asked to see a work related to the term ‘happy’, and found 85 drawings, photographs and paintings.

New initiatives also make it possible to bring work by celebrated artists into your home. Acute Art has collaborated with the artist KAWS to create a series of augmented reality (AR) sculptures, which can be experienced through the Acute Art App. Ever wondered what a Monet would look like in your dining room? Google’s ‘Art Projector’ also allows you to hang work by a famous artist in your chosen location.

Do you know the difference between Fauvism and De Stijl? And have you heard of Filmaktion, Orphism and Internet Art? Tate’s extensive online glossary of more than 400 art terms is perfect for those using time at home to broaden their knowledge of art history, or brush-up on terminology. Tate’s website also features online-only performances, artist films and tutorials, while a section called Tate Kids is packed with resources for families at home.

May 2020