Anonymous asked: What is your favourite gallery in London? I never know where to go.

(This is my first anonymous message that hasn’t been spam! I’ve made it!)

But sadly, I can’t really answer your question. I’ve spent years really trying to ‘get into’ art and failing. It’s only recently that I’ve actually come to appreciate it in any profound way. I would occasionally go and wander around all the big galleries, almost punishing myself for not liking much of what was in there. As you can imagine, this was exhausting, so I didn’t visit galleries very much - if at all.

When I started my MA I was thrown in with a bunch of people who really know their art. I had chosen to do my postgrad in cultural and creative industries so I could get more in tune with art and culture, but it was very daunting to be surrounded by people who really knew their shit already. 

After a series of personality clashes and moments of pure dread, I had a light bulb moment concerning my relationship with art. Whilst it seems fairly obvious in retrospect, I realised that I needed to stop putting pressure on myself to appreciate and understand art. I didn’t need to like or even respect the art that some of my peers did. Art is so deeply personal - the beauty of it is that the message is up for interpretation. It’s not as rigid as reading a book - or as obvious as watching a film. For me, art is about how you understand it - and enjoying what you can take from it. 

I don’t really appreciate the Old Masters, I don’t dig fine art - and I unfortunately take a somewhat boring stance on a lot of contemporary art (usually along the lines of “But I could do that”). But I’m slowly learning to respect my own personal tastes.

I like witty art. I’m really into art that is made of up things that aren’t arty. And art that is pretty. As you can see from that wonderfully descriptive display, I’m no art connoisseur and a future as an art critic or historian is definitely not on the cards. 

Sorry for the essay - I guess I just needed an eloquent way to tell you that I am in no way qualified to comment on what the best art gallery in London is. Go to all of them, walk around, take a mental note of what you like and look for more of a similar nature. If like me you’re a bit of an art novice, it’s unlikely you’ll find one gallery that you love through and through.

I went to see the Kasuma exhibit at the Tate Modern last week and I loved it so much. So I guess that’s a great starting point - something really accessible and not scary :)