Slow Art Day 2024 at the Basil & Elise Goulandris Foundation

The B&E Goulandris Foundation in Pangrati, the first museum in Athens to take part in the international Slow Art Day event, welcomes all visitors to Slow Art Day 2024 on Saturday April 13 and encourages them to discover selected works of its permanent Collection through the unique slow art experience.

Slow Art Day is a global event with a simple mission: to help as many people as possible discover the importance and the joy of slowly observing a work of art. It officially started in 2010 and ever since it has become an inextricable part of the programme of museums and galleries worldwide, with more than 1.500 events taking place annually all over the world, including Antarctica.

All people, regardless of their age, are encouraged to follow certain simple guidelines that show them how to slow down when observing Art and, through this process, enjoy a powerful experience. Spending a few more minutes in front of a work of art allows us to feel and understand it better, and can also lead to interesting conversations with friends.

As part of Slow Art Day 2024, on Saturday April 13 all visitors of the B&E Goulandris Foundation will be able to pick up from the Museum’s reception the specially designed leaflet that induces information and guidelines on the slow art looking technique, so that they may enjoy the experience focusing on four selected works of the permanent Collection: the art object "Caparisoned horse", funerary figurine by glazed earthenware (China, Tang Dynasty, 8th century) on the first floor, "The Red Fish" by A.R. Penck on the second floor, the "Large Study in Cadmium Red" by George Rorris on the third floor and "London Cityscape - Piccadilly Circus I" by Chryssa on the fourth floor. We suggest that visitors also use the leaflet in their next visits to the Museum, so that they can experience even more of the Collection’s works with the slow art technique.

Two additional mindfulness sessions of the specially designed programme “Mindfulness at the Museum” have also been scheduled for that day, with art historian, art educator and mindfulness instructor Lydia Petropoulou, both of which will focus on Friedensreich Hundertwasser’s work "Ninety-nine Heads". The first session is addressed to parents and children aged 7+ and will run 11.00 to 12.00 and the second one, for adults only, will take place 12.30 to 13.45.

“Mindfulness at the Museum” is a programme that helps participants become active, conscious viewers, encouraging them to draw information and knowledge from what they see and feel instead of what they already know in terms of understanding a work of art or an art object. Meanwhile, they enjoy the benefits of mindfulness that include improving their attention span and ability to concentrate, enhancing their memory, stress reduction and management as well as emotional development. Focusing on the present, this ‘meditative journey’ is used as an empowerment tool that awakens deeper connections and helps participants engage in a holistic approach of an artwork or an art object.

At Slow Art Day it is very important, once your experience is complete, to discuss it and share it with friends. The B&E Goulandris Foundation also invites you to share your experience on social media, using the hashtags #SlowArtDay, #BEGoulandrisFoundation.