One of the most popular things to do at this time of year is to take your children to an art gallery - not least because they’re free and make us feel like we are educating our children.
Jake Chapman, of Chapman Brothers, a renowned artist known for his controversy-causing artwork, has shocked art charities by saying that taking children to art galleries is a “total waste of time”.
He caused further anger after he said it was ‘arrogant’ of parents to believe their children could comprehend artists such as Jackson Pollock or Mark Rothko. He went on to suggest that the assumption was insulting to the artist.
Chapman, a father of three, speaking to the Independent on Sunday said that standing a child in front of a Pollock was ‘like saying … it's as moronic as a child. Children are not human yet.’
London’s Royal Academy Head of Learning told a British newspaper, ‘I don’t think it diminishes the accomplishment or complexity that great works of art can have…No one would say you shouldn’t take a child to a science or natural history museum because they don’t understand what they’re seeing at the level of the greatest in the world. Everyone comes at their own level.’
Should art be saved until a child is old enough to appreciate it in an adult way? At what age do children start to see things in the same was as adults? Can we and should we make that judgement call?
We asked a primary School teacher, Paul Carter from London, who specializes in teaching art for his thoughts on Chapman’s comments. ‘I think it is absolutely ridiculous to suggest that showing art to children is a waste of time.' said Paul. 'Children gain so much from seeing what can be created with a little time, effort and of course natural talent. Surely we should be encouraging children follow in the footsteps of some of these great artists. We need to inspire them and not assume that they are too young to understand and appreciate. They often understand more than their adult counterparts.’
Do you take your children to art galleries? Do you see it as a waste of time?
