Amelia Gregory discusses the responses to the art world being mediated by the Instagram experience
The question to post or not to post is a common struggle in modern society, this dispute is particularly prominent within the realm of Instagram and art. As a self-confessed Instagram enthusiast, I must admit that you would not have to scroll far down my feed before finding a picture of some art, in fact I do not believe that you would have to scroll at all. This makes me question why I felt compelled to photograph and post what I had seen, as opposed to just experiencing it first-hand?
I don’t feel that people should feel ashamed of posting pictures of art on their social media. Instagram is considered a modern form of self-expression and so if a particular piece of art resonates with you then what is the harm in posting it? I feel that as long as the artist or the establishment at which it is found is credited then the decision to share the image is just a matter of personal preference. Posting images of art can be seen as an extension of art or a piece of art in itself, Instagram is not limited to selfies and pictures of food, for many it is a place to showcase their photography, and this may involve photographing art. By restricting your perception of these online posts to the assumption of a lack of an authentic experience, you would be undermining the various ways in which people interact with art.
people should be entitled to interact with art and Instagram in whatever way they please
It can be argued that art should be looked at and appreciated in person and not through a camera lens or a phone screen, but the new surge of art being created for photography purposes seem to counter this belief. In recent years, there has been a large increase in art installations that appear to be directly targeted to an Instagram audience. This allows for a more interactive experience with art and the ‘Insta-worthy’ aesthetics can often increase attendance and encourage people to connect with art. Although these pieces may not be to everyone’s taste, art is subjective and so is Instagram. For this reason, I feel that people should be entitled to interact with art and Instagram in whatever way they please. As long as they are not using their social media platform negatively, the decision whether or not to post a picture of art is a personal choice which I do not believe compromises the art in question.
