How to ‘get’ art when you don’t feel like you do

The art world is having a moment. From the packed gallery weekends in Mumbai to the rise of pop-up exhibitions, it seems like everyone is attending a new opening or talking about the latest installation. Galleries are the new hotspots, and suddenly, it feels like the art scene is the place to be.

But here’s the thing: With the sudden explosion of galleries, shows and installations popping up left and right, it can feel like you’ve missed the memo. You walk into a gallery, surrounded by a crowd chatting about concepts, installations and aesthetic sensibilities, and you’re standing there thinking, Am I supposed to know what they’re talking about?

The curated crowd, the fancy vernacular—it all feels a bit… exclusive. It’s normal to feel like you need an insider’s knowledge or some kind of special credentials to actually enjoy what’s in front of you.

But here’s the truth: art is for everyone. You don’t need to have memorised every art movement or know the difference between a “Chiaroscuro” and “Sfumato” to enjoy the work on display. All you need is an open mind and the willingness to connect with the art in your own way.

This guide is for anyone who’s ever felt a little out of place in front of a piece of art. Breaking down the best way to look at art—not as an expert, but as a genuine participant.

1) You don’t need to “understand” art to experience it

Let’s start with a simple analogy: art is like reading a book. When you pick up a novel, you don’t necessarily understand every single detail in the first few pages. Sometimes, it’s only after finishing the book that the deeper meanings or emotional punches make sense. Sometimes you have an “Aha!” moment long after you are done reading.

It’s the same with art.

The first time you look at a painting or sculpture, it might not instantly click. You might feel something but not fully understand what that feeling is or what the artist was trying to convey. That’s okay. Just like a book, the meaning of a piece of art might come to you later—maybe even after you’ve left the gallery or museum.

So, what’s the key? Allow yourself to just experience the art. Don’t rush to analyze it. Notice how the colours make you feel, how the shapes or forms interact with one another, and what emotions or thoughts arise.

Think of it like reading a book without needing to grasp every plot twist immediately. With time, and without pressure, you’ll find yourself understanding the piece in your own way. Just like when you finish that novel and realize the layers you missed on your first read, art often comes to you slowly—and that’s part of the fun!

2) Art is about context, not just content

Looking at art isn’t just about what you see—it’s about understanding why the artist made certain choices and what was happening around them at the time. While the shapes, colours and composition of a piece are important, the context in which it was created can give you a whole new perspective.

For instance, take Tyeb Mehta’s Falling Figure. At first glance, it may seem like a simple image of a figure caught in a dramatic fall, distorted and writhing in space. But when you understand the historical context—Mehta created this piece during a time of great social and political upheaval in post-partition India—you start to see the deeper layers. The fallen figure could be interpreted as a symbol of the disillusionment and struggles people were facing in the aftermath of partition. The jagged, almost violent lines and the distorted human form reflect a fractured nation in turmoil.

You don’t need to know every detail about the artist’s life or every historical event to appreciate a piece of art. But just learning a bit about when it was made, what was happening in the world, or how the artist was personally influenced can shift your perspective entirely.

Here are some questions that can help uncover that context:

When was this piece created?

What social, political or cultural movements were happening at the time?

How might the artist’s personal experiences or the world events around them have influenced their work?

3) Ask more questions—and don’t be afraid to wonder

One of the best ways to enjoy art is to question every inch of the work—why this colour? Why this pattern? Why this placement? It’s less about finding the ‘right’ answers and more about the discovery. Art doesn’t always have to tell you a clear story or offer up its meaning right away. And sometimes, it’s about asking yourself what’s going on, what emotions you’re feeling, or what thoughts come to mind. It’s less about being “right” or “wrong” and more about exploring the piece from your own perspective.

Take Dalí’s The Persistence of Memory, with its melting clocks draped over trees and distorted landscapes. At first glance, it can seem bizarre or confusing. What’s going on here? Is it a dream? A nightmare?

But instead of trying to pin down the exact meaning, you might ask: What does this piece remind me of? Maybe it evokes a sense of time slipping away, or it makes you think about how memories distort over time.

When you look at art, don’t be afraid to ask:

What story does this work tell me?

What emotions does it evoke?

Art is about personal connection. The same painting can affect two people in completely different ways, and both are equally valid. There’s no wrong way to look at art, because it’s ultimately about what resonates with you. Maybe a work makes you feel peaceful, or maybe it makes you uncomfortable.

You don’t need to have a set narrative or an “expert” interpretation. The most important thing is being open to how the work makes you feel in the moment. Some pieces might take time to fully appreciate, but that’s part of the journey—there’s no rush to figure everything out.

4) Look for clues, not conclusions

When you’re standing in front of a piece of art, it’s easy to want to jump to a conclusion about what it means. But instead of rushing to figure it all out, try looking for clues first. These “clues” can be found in the colours, materials, composition or even the title of the artwork. Pay attention to the small details, and let them guide you through the piece without forcing a final interpretation too quickly.

For example, consider the medium used in a piece:

Is the work a painting, a sculpture, or something more experimental?

Why might the artist have chosen this medium? Does it add something to the meaning?

Next, take a moment to observe the scale:

Is the work huge and overpowering, or small and intimate?

How does the size of the piece make you feel when you look at it?

And don’t forget the colours:

Are the colours bright and bold, or muted and calm?

Do the colours make you feel a certain way—tense, relaxed, excited?

These clues can help unlock new ways of seeing a piece, but they’re just the starting point. Don’t rush to declare your final thoughts. Just like a detective slowly putting the pieces together, you might start to see the bigger picture after taking the time to observe.

The key is to stay curious and give yourself permission to take in the art piece by piece. Instead of trying to figure out the meaning in one go, let the elements of the artwork unfold gradually. You might find that the work becomes clearer the longer you spend with it.

Take Jayesh Sachdev’s Tidal Surge: Kaali and Dawon, a mythical work of art using modern means of portrayal. You see the Indian goddess Kaali, along with her dawon (tiger), riding along the tides. The use of saturated colours, the sheer scale (spread across two 5 ft x 5 ft canvases), and the juxtaposition of the goddess, along with the hints of golden yellow to depict power, all give you more to think about. The title, Tidal Surge, also adds another layer of meaning. To me, it suggests something inevitable. Unstoppable. A build-up of pressure that can no longer be contained. But instead of immediately jumping to these conclusions, take the time to first observe the textures, colours and forms—and let the piece slowly reveal its meaning to you.

5) You don’t have to “like” everything

Here’s something people don’t say enough: it’s okay if you don’t like a work of art.

You don’t have to feel moved, impressed or inspired every time you stand in front of something. Art isn’t about pleasing everyone. And your reaction—positive, negative, or indifferent—is part of the process.

You might feel bored. Or confused. Or irritated. That’s still a response, and it’s just as valuable as awe or admiration. Sometimes, not liking something tells you more about your own tastes, your biases, or even your mood that day. And that in itself is part of the experience.

The point is: you don’t need to force a connection. Not every piece is for you—and that’s fine. What matters is that you gave it a moment. That you looked. That you considered it. That’s already enough.

6) Spend more than a few seconds

Most people look at a piece of art for less than 10 seconds. That’s barely enough time to register anything, let alone feel something. If you want to actually connect with a work, give it more than a passing glance. Stay with it for a minute. Or three.

The longer you look, the more you’ll start noticing—something in the background, a colour that keeps pulling your eye, a texture you missed before. It’s often the second or third thing you see that stays with you.

You don’t have to force meaning out of it. Just see what you didn’t at first.

7) Read the wall text (then forget it if you want)

The little blurb next to the artwork? It can help. Sometimes it gives you useful context—what the piece is about, when it was made, what the artist was exploring. But it’s not the final word. If it doesn’t click with you, that’s okay.

Use it as a tool, not a rule. Let it fill in some blanks, but don’t feel boxed in by it. You’re allowed to walk away with a completely different takeaway than what’s written.

Sometimes the label adds insight. Sometimes it gets in the way. You get to decide.

8) Talk about it

Art is more fun when you share it. After you’ve spent some time with an art, chat about it with someone else—whether that’s a friend or a fellow gallery-goer. Sharing what you think can spark a whole new way of looking at things. You might hear something you didn’t pick up on, or your own thoughts might shift after hearing someone else’s perspective. Art’s not just a solo thing—it’s a conversation, and talking about it brings out layers you might have missed the first time around.

9) Do a little homework before you go

Before heading to the gallery, it helps to read a bit about the artist, the exhibition and their background. You don’t need to turn into an art historian, but knowing a bit about what the artist is exploring or the themes behind the exhibition can give you a fresh lens to view the work. It’s like getting the backstory to a movie before watching it—you’ll start picking up on things you might have missed otherwise. Plus, it helps take the pressure off.

Also Read: Method in the basement—How Sahil Arora and Anica Mann are moulding Delhi’s art scene