On April 5, 2025, Walyalup Fremantle Arts Centre (WFAC) in Western Australia held their first Slow Art Day during the Perth Festival exhibition season and focused on four contemporary works presented in the Wardong Gallery.

Before the slow looking began, Shannon Lyons, Engagement and Public Programs Coordinator, welcomed participants and acknowledged the Whadjuk people as the traditional custodians of the land.

Shannon outlined a self-directed structure for the morning and invited participants to spend approximately 15 minutes with each of the four mapped artworks, choosing their own order. They were encouraged to unplug, remain quiet, and refrain from reading the gallery texts, focusing instead on what they could see and experience directly. Notepaper, pencils, and clipboards were offered for those who wished to write or draw, and stools were available for seated viewing.

After an hour of slow looking, the group reconvened in the center of the gallery for a relaxed discussion. Conversation prompts invited participants to share one word to describe an artwork, reflect on details noticed, and consider what it felt like to look slowly.

For many attendees, this was a new experience. Most had never spent sustained time with an artwork before. The extended encounter with Mitchell’s video work encouraged careful observation and personal interpretation.

We look forward to seeing what the WFAC comes up with for Slow Art Day 2026.

– Ashley, Johanna, Jessica Jane, and Phyl