Step into a unique experience where the paintings of the National Gallery are no longer visible.

Instead, National Gallery Artist in Residence, Katrina Palmer invites you to engage with her new book, The Touch Report, offering an alternative way to consider these iconic works.

In a specially constructed reading room, you can immerse yourself in the book’s pages. Here, you’ll find copies available for reading, accompanied by an enigmatic sealed bookcase and a rarely seen sculpture from the Gallery’s archives. This thought-provoking setting encourages quiet reflection on the art and its narratives.

Named after the Gallery’s documentation of when displayed artworks are physically touched, The Touch Report examines the delicate materiality of historical paintings and confronts their often-violent imagery. In her writing, Palmer conducts a focused audit of the paintings, describing only the violence, subjugation, and physical tension depicted within them.

Through these stark, unembellished descriptions, Palmer invites readers to explore the dichotomy between civilisation and violence portrayed in historical art. Her work highlights the evocative power of words, challenging the dominance of visual imagery and inviting a deeper, more critical engagement with the stories these paintings tell.

Artwork:
Katrina Palmer © The National Gallery, London; The Touch Report © Katrina Palmer