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| Tate Modern Turbine Gallery (Image source) |
On Friday evening, I went to see the current Edvard Munch exhibition at the Tate Modern (more on that later, hopefully). As I was looking around, enjoying the rich and wonderful paintings, a young chap who had been looking at a painting nearby caught the attention of my friend and me, saying "excuse me, but isn't this painting just so cool. Sorry, I don't know much about art, this is the first exhibition I've ever been to..." To which we responded along the lines of "don't worry about that". "I just think it's great, isn't it?", he carried on, in delight. We agreed and admired the painting together before he happily made his way into the next room.
I was just so pleased and flattered that he had chosen to share his excitement and unpretentious enjoyment of the painting with us. I like to think it's because we looked friendly and unpretentious ourselves... It made me really very happy to share this stranger's joy at experiencing these paintings up close at his first ever exhibition. I still become exuberant when I see original art works (or even prints of my favourite pieces) so it's not that I needed reminding of what a wonderful experience it can be, but it was just rather special to have this stranger so unashamedly keen to share his appreciation of this painting with us.
That's so lovely! Moments like that seem to be very rare in the city and make them even more special when they do happen. <3 xx
ReplyDeleteThey are rare! Especially because he was so honest and happy. I've actually had a few conversations and encounters with people in museums and galleries, but this is definitely one of the best.
DeleteOh, your story touches the emotions, moves the soul. I particularly noticed, too, that he admitted it was his first ever exhibition. I fancy he wasn't aged just 12, so that caught me unawares and caused me to feel his excitement particularly. It's wonderful he felt able to share with you - I'm sure that added to his experience and hopefully encourages him to explore further. You just never know how being yourself can enhance another's experience. I know what it's like to have the excitement spill out. I laugh at myself when I couldn't help myself with talking to other passengers on their way to Andrea Bocelli. They were impressed with me when I excitedly told them I'd taken care to have Italian food for dinner (he is from Tuscany). They were disappointed they'd had Chinese! Love a theme!
ReplyDeleteIt caught me unawares as well, when he said it was his first exhibition. I love it that he was honest and told us that, rather than pretending. It did make me intrigued, wondering what inspired him to go there, as he seemed to be on his own so he obviously hadn't been dragged there!
DeleteAnd thanks for sharing your story too!
DeleteI can't help one further comment ... Your story is Romantic, in the fullest, capital 'R' sense.
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