No White Gloves

Reimagining our relationship with Art

Written by Saira Kalimuddin

A bunch of paintings in the back of a car is probably not something you see in an art education article everyday.

But the fact of the matter is, when we have over 400 paintings in our inventory, we need to move them between locations and this is not always glamorous.

Art has long been viewed as something sacred—an object to be handled with reverence and preserved in perfect condition. Museums and galleries are often portrayed as sterile, white-gloved sanctuaries where paintings are treated as fragile treasures, too precious to be touched. Curators and auction specialists, often seen handling paintings with meticulous care, reinforce the idea that the surface of a canvas is sacrosanct and should never be disturbed.

But there’s a difference between art housed in museums or stored in the vaults of a cultural institution and the artwork that makes its way into your home or your personal collection. The former is part of a broader, public endeavour to preserve history and culture for future generations. The latter, however, is something altogether more intimate—a personal experience that is meant to connect with you, not be kept at a distance.

This is where I think our approach to art needs to change. We need to separate the way we approach art in museums from the way we approach art that we might consider collecting.

Art, in the context of your home or personal collection, should not be treated as something too precious to touch or engage with. It should not be an object to be revered from a distance, but something to be loved, appreciated, and even embraced in its imperfect form.

I think the way we handle art at TDP has brought us closer in our connection with art, and has nurtured our love for art. We don’t wear white gloves, we aren’t afraid of touching and handling the pieces, we move them about, and we often hang them up or take them down.

Art is Meant to be Felt and Experienced

The very act of collecting and displaying art in your space should be about more than just acquiring an object to hang on the wall. It should be about creating an environment where you can experience the artwork on a personal level. Art is meant to evoke emotion, inspire thought, and create a connection between the viewer and the piece. When art is treated as untouchable or too fragile to engage with, it loses its power to impact those who encounter it.

Imagine walking into a room and being drawn to a painting. You want to get closer, study its brushstrokes, feel the texture of the paint, and maybe even touch the edges. When art is relegated to a sterile space, behind glass or under strict instructions not to touch, you lose that tactile, intimate experience. Art should not be something you merely look at from a distance; it should be something you feel, breathe in, and experience in your space.

Imperfection and Life

Art, much like life, is imperfect. The idea that it must remain flawless in order to be appreciated is a misunderstanding of what makes it so valuable. Paintings evolve over time, sometimes becoming faded or weathered, and that’s part of the charm. The imperfections tell a story, just as the brushstrokes and textures do. These details add character and history to the piece, making it more than just an image on a canvas—they make it a living thing.

In a personal collection, art should reflect the life around it. It should be part of the atmosphere of your home, adding warmth and personality to the space. Whether it’s a painting that hangs above your mantel, a sculpture that lives on your bookshelf, or a photograph that rests on your desk, art should be something you can engage with in a real, everyday way.

The Shift in Mindset: From Reverence to Enjoyment

The shift in mindset is simple: we need to stop thinking of art as something to be revered and start seeing it as something to be enjoyed and experienced. Art is not an object to be placed on a pedestal, behind a barrier, or treated as a delicate artefact. It is a part of our world, meant to evoke emotions, thoughts, and conversations.

As collectors and lovers of art, we should feel empowered to handle it, appreciate its imperfections, and allow it to become an integrated part of our lives. This doesn’t mean disregarding the care that art requires—it simply means approaching it with a mindset of connection rather than preservation. Art is for living with, not just admiring from a distance.

In the end, art isn’t about perfection or preservation. It’s about connection—both with the piece itself and with the people who engage with it. It’s time to let art be part of our lives, to live with it, and to embrace the imperfections that make it all the more meaningful.