There are only so many digital Rembrandts an art aficionado can take. At least, so says Jonathan Jones of The Guardian in his latest piece examining the reopening of various galleries across the capital.
Jones muses that: “The art world is coming back to life” perhaps having missed the flurry of institutions, who, for better or for worse, made the transition to the digital sphere as a response to the outbreak of Covid-19.
He continues that: “Exhibitions are stumbling blocks and adventures. They’re events in the world that cannot be replicated in front of your computer.” While Jones clearly has a point – the digital world is far removed from an actual gallery, the former is intended as a supplement, not a replacement. After all, there is a pandemic going on.
Jones states that: “In effect, all the online curator’s tours, video visits and newsletters have replaced art with public relations.” Again, a valuable point, but rather uncharitable given the whole global pandemic.
Continuing on, he notes turns to, and on, museum, writing that: “Our museums may be victims of their own success.” The popularity of museums across the country have undermined their ability to reopen – it is difficult to establish how to enforce social distancing around pieces such as the Rosetta Stone, for example.
Jones’ conclusion is as controversial as the rest of his piece attempts to be. He asks whether it may be wise to “introduce admission charges”, albeit temporarily. One hopes that in spite of Jones’ suggestion, free museum admission is not another casualty of Covid-19.
