Mindful Seeing
The idea for Mindful Seeing came about when Eleanor, from Arnolfini, reached out about their new ‘Season of Healing’. An initiative to promote better health and wellbeing and bring new audiences from the community.
They were looking for holistic events that could take place in their gallery space for an upcoming exhibition, Emma Talbot: Everything is Energy.
Somatic movement classes were initially suggested, but I felt that ‘Mindful Seeing’ would be a better way to interact with the exhibition. It’ll be an integrated experience for the participants, and we’ll feel more natural being in the space.
Mindful Seeing is important part of natural vision improvement. When our eyes, mind and body function well together, we’ll naturally be able to see more clearly. Like Mindful Walking, our intention affects how feel. We can walk around absent mindedly or be present with ourselves and our environment.
As Jon Kabt-Zinn states, Mindfulness is being in the present moment non judgementally. By feeling our feet on the ground and staying connected to our breathing, we can enhance our perceptions and be more connected to our experience.
When we’re relaxed, we tend to see more clearly. We notice texture, colour, depth, shapes and form. This will be an ideal condition to see Talbot’s huge colourful artwork.
A skilful artist can enable you to see things from different perspective and bring new understanding. As Pablo Picasso said,
‘There is only one way to see things, until someone shows us how to look at them with different eyes’.
We often have preconceived ideas of what we’re seeing, as our mind plays essential role in vision. Moreover, what we notice depends on how we’re feeling mentally, physically and emotionally.
How we interpret art also depends on its context. If you’re not a regular exhibition goer, you may not feel so comfortable in the gallery environment. You may also feel pressured to understand the work in certain ways.
Interesting art encourages you to question and explore. It doesn’t tell you how to see and interpret the work. Talbot’s work is multifaceted, and she’s interested in diverse relatable topics. Her work explores themes of grief, healing, trauma, the body, and rest. She’s also interested in environmental issues.
Like fingerprints, our vision is also distinctive. Every one of us has a unique perspective and interesting way of seeing. We see and notice different things, but we also have common ways of viewing. What makes our eyes even more interesting is the integral relationship between our eyes and mind – our physical and mental connection, our sight and insight.
Mindful Seeing sessions will aim to honour and open your perception. Through easy and simple practice, you’ll feel connected and embodied. You’ll also learn useful techniques to open your periphery and bring better balance to the way we see.
You’ll gently be encouraged to stay focused and relaxed, so that you can see in a soft and effortless way.
There are two two timing available Friday 23rd January 12-1pm & Wednesday 4th February 1-2pm at Arnolfini, Bush House, 16 Narrow Quay, Bristol BS1 4QA. For more information and booking.