In an effort to take art out of the white cube, the Visual Arts Gallery launched its arts appreciation course from March 7, 2006. Titled "Looking at Art ", the lecture series were spread over a period of ten weeks ending May 18, 2006. On offer was a delightful platter of various forms of visual arts exploring: What makes an art work? How do you look at a work of art? Representation and interpretation of an art work.

The world over, art has stood as a symbol of refinement and taste. From the king's atelier, it has now reached our living rooms, bestowing upon us a legacy. What started off as a mere means of pleasure has today become an important part of the social consciousness of the people. Art is an extension of feelings or emotions that are neither audible nor visible, but can be perceived through the senses or the heart. The art tradition offers us a wide arena of players. Painters, poets, musician, writers, sculptors in the past and present have always been there, reviving our senses. It is the greatest play, on the senses, a sensual experience never devoid of illusions. This has made the idea to conduct an art appreciation course increasingly significant today.

Targeted at the art students, collectors and aficionados of art, “Looking At Art” - art appreciation course was meant to enlighten the audience and quench their thirst for knowledge about art. It was aimed at increasing people's appreciation and understanding of the visual culture including painting, photography and sculptures. It was meant to look at the masters both in India and abroad, consider differences in style, in genre, in medium and form. The participants learnt from a series of lectures, which included the use of slides. By the conclusion of the class, one hoped that the participants were equipped to approach art with greater appreciation and understanding.

“Looking at Art” was conducted twice a week, every Tuesday and Tuesday, from 6pm to 7.30pm at the Palm Court Conference Room/ Director’s Conference Room, India Habitat Centre.

The resource people included art historians, experts and eminent artists like: Dr Alka Pande who lectured on “Aesthetics of art: What is art?” “Eye of the collector” and “Indian Art Goes Global”; art historian Roobina Karode who gave lectures on “Fundamentals of Visual art”, “Art in Public Domain” and “How to look at work of Art”; artist Kavita Jaiswal who spoke on “Ways on seeing a painting”; photographer Sanjeev Saith on “What makes a photograph?”; ceramist Kristine Michael on Ceramics- Is it Art?; Head of the Fine Arts Department, South Delhi Polytechnic for Women, Anand Moy Banerjee who gave a talk on “Impression print and extending the parameters”; sculptor Prashanta Mukherjee on “What Makes a Sculpture”; architect Vishal Dar on “What is New Media” and “Art and Architecture in Technological Times”; Laila Tyabji from Dastkar, on “Craft Traditions” and “Textile Art”; Anando Dutta on “What is Digital Art” , Lolita Dutta on “Art and Design”. Last but on the least conservator Meenakshi Devi Singhania on “Preserving works of art”.