You’re standing at the centre of an expansive art gallery, overwhelmed by what’s in front of you: panel after panel of stupendous works – densely-written labels affixed next to each piece. These labels may offer a window into the artist’s intention, or the social and historical context of the work.
Labels should be able to ‘speak’ to a broad range of audiences: from a casual and curious visitor through to a subject matter expert. Turgid ‘art jargon’ is notoriously difficult to decipher and can negatively impact the visitor’s experience. This is a breach in the museum’s responsibility to its audiences.
