TED@BCG Toronto
Amy Herman: A lesson on looking
Filmed:
Readability: 4.1
714,745 views
Are you looking closely? Visual educator Amy Herman explains how to use art to enhance your powers of perception and find connections where they may not be apparent. Learn the techniques Herman uses to train Navy SEALs, doctors and crime scene investigators to convert observable details into actionable knowledge with this insightful talk.
Amy Herman - Visual educator
By showing people how to look closely at painting, sculpture and photography, Amy Herman helps them hone their visual intelligence to recognize the most pertinent and useful information as well as recognize biases that impede decision making. Full bio
By showing people how to look closely at painting, sculpture and photography, Amy Herman helps them hone their visual intelligence to recognize the most pertinent and useful information as well as recognize biases that impede decision making. Full bio
Double-click the English transcript below to play the video.
00:12
Take a look at this work of art.
0
719
1560
00:16
What is it that you see?
1
4178
1519
00:19
At first glance, it looks
to be a grandfather clock
to be a grandfather clock
2
7064
3651
00:22
with a sheet thrown over it
3
10739
1743
00:24
and a rope tied around the center.
4
12506
1896
00:27
But a first look always warrants a second.
5
15657
3048
00:31
Look again.
6
19591
1150
00:33
What do you see now?
7
21751
1150
00:35
If you look more closely,
8
23830
1913
00:37
you'll realize
that this entire work of art
that this entire work of art
9
25767
4150
00:41
is made from one piece of sculpture.
10
29941
2528
00:44
There is no clock,
11
32845
1593
00:46
there is no rope,
12
34462
1540
00:48
and there is no sheet.
13
36026
1430
00:50
It is one piece of bleached
Honduras mahogany.
Honduras mahogany.
14
38022
3783
00:54
Now let me be clear:
15
42969
1690
00:56
this exercise was not
about looking at sculpture.
about looking at sculpture.
16
44683
4518
01:02
It's about looking
17
50509
1150
01:04
and understanding
that looking closely can save a life,
that looking closely can save a life,
18
52440
4775
01:09
change your company
19
57239
1470
01:10
and even help you understand
why your children behave the way they do.
why your children behave the way they do.
20
58733
4263
01:15
It's a skill that I call
visual intelligence,
visual intelligence,
21
63574
2834
01:18
and I use works of art to teach everybody,
22
66432
2579
01:21
from everyday people
to those for whom looking is the job,
to those for whom looking is the job,
23
69035
4689
01:25
like Navy SEALs and homicide
detectives and trauma nurses.
detectives and trauma nurses.
24
73748
4765
01:31
The fact is that no matter how skilled
you might be at looking,
you might be at looking,
25
79464
3806
01:35
you still have so much
to learn about seeing.
to learn about seeing.
26
83294
3314
01:38
Because we all think we get it
in a first glance and a sudden flash,
in a first glance and a sudden flash,
27
86632
4429
01:43
but the real skill is in understanding
how to look slowly
how to look slowly
28
91085
4491
01:47
and how to look more carefully.
29
95600
1875
01:49
The talent is in remembering --
30
97499
2372
01:51
in the crush of the daily urgencies
that demand our attention --
that demand our attention --
31
99895
4053
01:55
to step back and look through
those lenses to help us see
those lenses to help us see
32
103972
4053
02:00
what we've been missing all along.
33
108049
1753
02:03
So how can looking at painting
and sculpture help?
and sculpture help?
34
111026
3212
02:06
Because art is a powerful tool.
35
114702
2181
02:10
It's a powerful tool
that engages both sight and insight
that engages both sight and insight
36
118187
4584
02:14
and reframes our understanding
of where we are and what we see.
of where we are and what we see.
37
122795
4483
02:20
Here's an example of a work of art
38
128535
3041
02:23
that reminded me
that visual intelligence --
that visual intelligence --
39
131600
2929
02:26
it's an ongoing learning process
40
134553
1950
02:28
and one that really is never mastered.
41
136527
2052
02:31
I came across this quiet,
seemingly abstract painting,
seemingly abstract painting,
42
139121
3790
02:34
and I had to step up to it twice,
43
142935
2303
02:37
even three times,
44
145262
1216
02:38
to understand why it resonated so deeply.
45
146502
3062
02:42
Now, I've seen the Washington Monument
in person thousands of times,
in person thousands of times,
46
150146
4310
02:46
well aware of the change in the color
of marble a third of the way up,
of marble a third of the way up,
47
154480
3974
02:50
but I had never really looked
at it out of context
at it out of context
48
158478
3200
02:53
or truly as a work of art.
49
161702
1933
02:56
And here, Georgia O'Keeffe's painting
of this architectural icon made me realize
of this architectural icon made me realize
50
164670
5864
03:02
that if we put our mind to it,
51
170558
2190
03:04
it's possible to see everyday things
52
172772
3162
03:07
in a wholly new
and eye-opening perspective.
and eye-opening perspective.
53
175958
2943
03:11
Now, there are some skeptics that believe
that art just belongs in an art museum.
that art just belongs in an art museum.
54
179863
4088
03:17
They believe that it has no practical
use beyond its aesthetic value.
use beyond its aesthetic value.
55
185849
3766
03:21
I know who they are
in every audience I teach.
in every audience I teach.
56
189639
2541
03:24
Their arms are crossed,
their legs are crossed,
their legs are crossed,
57
192204
2745
03:26
their body language is saying,
58
194973
1652
03:28
"What am I going to learn
from this lady who talks fast
from this lady who talks fast
59
196649
2573
03:31
about painting and sculpture?"
60
199246
1941
03:34
So how do I make it relevant for them?
61
202875
2466
03:39
I ask them to look at this work of art,
62
207078
2231
03:41
like this portrait by Kumi Yamashita.
63
209333
2261
03:44
And I ask them to step in close,
64
212388
2018
03:46
and even closer still,
65
214430
2221
03:48
and while they're looking
at the work of art,
at the work of art,
66
216675
2237
03:50
they need to be asking questions
about what they see.
about what they see.
67
218936
2700
03:54
And if they ask the right questions,
68
222341
1742
03:56
like, "What is this work of art?
69
224107
1618
03:57
Is it a painting? Is it a sculpture?
70
225749
1775
03:59
What is it made of?" ...
71
227548
1150
04:00
they will find out
that this entire work of art
that this entire work of art
72
228722
3229
04:03
is made of a wooden board,
73
231975
1744
04:05
10,000 nails
74
233743
1629
04:07
and one unbroken piece of sewing thread.
75
235396
2606
04:10
Now that might be
interesting to some of you,
interesting to some of you,
76
238663
2178
04:12
but what does it have to do
with the work that these people do?
with the work that these people do?
77
240865
3021
04:15
And the answer is everything.
78
243910
1843
04:17
Because we all interact with people
multiple times on a daily basis,
multiple times on a daily basis,
79
245777
4284
04:22
and we need to get better
at asking questions
at asking questions
80
250085
2406
04:24
about what it is that we see.
81
252515
1812
04:27
Learning to frame
the question in such a way
the question in such a way
82
255420
2561
04:30
as to elicit the information
that we need to do our jobs,
that we need to do our jobs,
83
258005
3051
04:33
is a critical life skill.
84
261080
1775
04:35
Like the radiologist who told me
85
263664
2286
04:37
that looking at the negative
spaces in a painting
spaces in a painting
86
265974
2500
04:40
helped her discern
more discreet abnormalities in an MRI.
more discreet abnormalities in an MRI.
87
268498
4026
04:45
Or the police officer who said
that understanding the emotional dynamic
that understanding the emotional dynamic
88
273072
5165
04:50
between people in a painting
89
278261
1558
04:51
helped him to read body language
at a domestic violence crime scene,
at a domestic violence crime scene,
90
279843
4289
04:56
and it enabled him to think twice
before drawing and firing his weapon.
before drawing and firing his weapon.
91
284156
5399
05:01
And even parents can look to see
absences of color in paintings
absences of color in paintings
92
289579
5006
05:06
to understand that
what their children say to them
what their children say to them
93
294609
3518
05:10
is as important as what they don't say.
94
298151
2300
05:13
So how do I --
95
301766
1714
05:16
how do I train to be
more visually intelligent?
more visually intelligent?
96
304472
3088
05:20
It comes down to four As.
97
308384
2277
05:22
Every new situation, every new problem --
98
310685
2482
05:25
we practice four As.
99
313191
1534
05:26
First, we assess our situation.
100
314749
1489
05:28
We ask, "What do we have in front of us?"
101
316262
2235
05:30
Then, we analyze it.
102
318521
1538
05:32
We say, "What's important?
103
320083
1325
05:33
What do I need? What don't I need?"
104
321432
1732
05:35
Then, we articulate it in a conversation,
in a memo, in a text, in an email.
in a memo, in a text, in an email.
105
323188
3766
05:38
And then, we act: we make a decision.
106
326978
2599
05:42
We all do this multiple times a day,
107
330461
2358
05:44
but we don't realize what a role
seeing and looking plays
seeing and looking plays
108
332843
3644
05:48
in all of those actions,
109
336511
1579
05:50
and how visual intelligence
can really improve everything.
can really improve everything.
110
338114
3664
05:54
So recently, I had a group
of counterterrorism officials
of counterterrorism officials
111
342625
2666
05:57
at a museum in front of this painting.
112
345315
1959
05:59
El Greco's painting,
"The Purification of the Temple,"
"The Purification of the Temple,"
113
347298
3430
06:02
in which Christ, in the center,
in a sweeping and violent gesture,
in a sweeping and violent gesture,
114
350752
4087
06:06
is expelling the sinners
from the temple of prayer.
from the temple of prayer.
115
354863
2907
06:10
The group of counterterrorism officials
had five minutes with that painting,
had five minutes with that painting,
116
358321
3611
06:13
and in that short amount of time,
they had to assess the situation,
they had to assess the situation,
117
361956
3912
06:17
analyze the details,
118
365892
1690
06:19
articulate what, if anything,
119
367606
1692
06:21
they would do if they were
in that painting.
in that painting.
120
369322
2523
06:25
As you can imagine,
observations and insights differed.
observations and insights differed.
121
373329
3400
06:28
Who would they talk to?
122
376753
1151
06:29
Who would be the best witness?
123
377928
1506
06:31
Who was a good potential witness?
124
379458
1586
06:33
Who was lurking?
125
381068
1151
06:34
Who had the most information?
126
382243
1400
06:36
But my favorite comment
came from a seasoned cop
came from a seasoned cop
127
384131
3472
06:39
who looked at the central figure and said,
128
387627
2115
06:41
"You see that guy in the pink?" --
129
389766
1635
06:43
referring to Christ --
130
391425
1230
06:44
he said, "I'd collar him,
he's causing all the trouble."
he's causing all the trouble."
131
392679
2642
06:47
(Laughter)
132
395345
3128
06:50
So looking at art gives us a perfect
vehicle to rethink how we solve problems
vehicle to rethink how we solve problems
133
398497
5397
06:55
without the aid of technology.
134
403918
1642
06:57
Looking at the work
of Felix Gonzalez-Torres,
of Felix Gonzalez-Torres,
135
405584
2683
07:00
you see two clocks
in perfect synchronicity.
in perfect synchronicity.
136
408291
3087
07:03
The hour, minute and
second hand perfectly aligned.
second hand perfectly aligned.
137
411949
4017
07:07
They are installed side by side
and they're touching,
and they're touching,
138
415990
3302
07:11
and they are entitled
"'Untitled' (Perfect Lovers)."
"'Untitled' (Perfect Lovers)."
139
419316
3078
07:15
But closer analysis makes you realize
140
423431
2112
07:17
that these are two
battery-operated clocks,
battery-operated clocks,
141
425567
3149
07:20
which in turn makes you understand --
142
428740
1835
07:22
"Hey, wait a minute ...
143
430599
1242
07:23
One of those batteries
is going to stop before the other.
is going to stop before the other.
144
431865
2703
07:26
One of those clocks is going
to slow down and die before the other
to slow down and die before the other
145
434592
3156
07:29
and it's going to alter
the symmetry of the artwork."
the symmetry of the artwork."
146
437772
2483
07:33
Just articulating that thought process
147
441073
3108
07:36
includes the necessity
of a contingency plan.
of a contingency plan.
148
444205
3292
07:40
You need to have contingencies
for the unforeseen,
for the unforeseen,
149
448687
2680
07:43
the unexpected and the unknown,
150
451391
2476
07:45
whenever and however they may happen.
151
453891
2653
07:50
Now, using art to increase
our visual intelligence
our visual intelligence
152
458150
3597
07:53
involves planning for contingencies,
153
461771
2061
07:55
understanding the big picture
and the small details
and the small details
154
463856
2398
07:58
and noticing what's not there.
155
466278
1635
08:00
So in this painting by Magritte,
156
468399
2454
08:02
noticing that there are no tracks
under the train,
under the train,
157
470877
3150
08:06
there is no fire in the fireplace
158
474051
2164
08:08
and there are no candles
in the candlesticks
in the candlesticks
159
476239
2178
08:10
actually more accurately
describes the painting
describes the painting
160
478441
2817
08:13
than if you were to say, "Well,
there's a train coming out of a fireplace,
there's a train coming out of a fireplace,
161
481282
3515
08:16
and there are candlesticks on the mantle."
162
484821
2086
08:18
It may sound counterintuitive
to say what isn't there,
to say what isn't there,
163
486931
2663
08:21
but it's really a very valuable tool.
164
489618
2037
08:24
When a detective who had learned
about visual intelligence
about visual intelligence
165
492398
2760
08:27
in North Carolina
166
495182
1151
08:28
was called to the crime scene,
167
496357
1476
08:29
it was a boating fatality,
168
497857
1440
08:31
and the eyewitness told this detective
that the boat had flipped over
that the boat had flipped over
169
499321
3560
08:34
and the occupant had drowned underneath.
170
502905
2711
08:38
Now, instinctively, crime scene
investigators look for what is apparent,
investigators look for what is apparent,
171
506055
3650
08:41
but this detective
did something different.
did something different.
172
509729
2200
08:43
He looked for what wasn't there,
which is harder to do.
which is harder to do.
173
511953
2587
08:47
And he raised the question:
174
515045
1315
08:48
if the boat had really
tipped flipped over --
tipped flipped over --
175
516384
2912
08:51
as the eyewitness said that it did --
176
519320
2218
08:53
how come the papers that were kept
at one end of the boat
at one end of the boat
177
521562
2755
08:56
were completely dry?
178
524341
1601
08:58
Based on that one small
but critical observation,
but critical observation,
179
526900
3388
09:02
the investigation shifted
from accidental death to homicide.
from accidental death to homicide.
180
530312
3961
09:08
Now, equally important
to saying what isn't there
to saying what isn't there
181
536257
2640
09:10
is the ability to find visual connections
where they may not be apparent.
where they may not be apparent.
182
538921
4619
09:16
Like Marie Watt's totem pole of blankets.
183
544442
3052
09:19
It illustrates that finding hidden
connections in everyday objects
connections in everyday objects
184
547518
4084
09:23
can resonate so deeply.
185
551626
1731
09:25
The artist collected blankets
from all different people
from all different people
186
553796
2681
09:28
in her community,
187
556501
1468
09:29
and she had the owners
of the blankets write, on a tag,
of the blankets write, on a tag,
188
557993
3254
09:33
the significance of
the blanket to the family.
the blanket to the family.
189
561271
2544
09:36
Some of the blankets
had been used for baby blankets,
had been used for baby blankets,
190
564448
2665
09:39
some of them had been used
as picnic blankets,
as picnic blankets,
191
567137
2200
09:41
some of them had been used for the dog.
192
569361
2412
09:44
We all have blankets in our homes
193
572386
2806
09:47
and understand the significance
that they play.
that they play.
194
575216
2551
09:50
But similarly, I instruct new doctors:
195
578704
2341
09:53
when they walk into a patient's room,
196
581069
1896
09:54
before they pick up that medical chart,
197
582989
3192
09:58
just look around the room.
198
586205
1802
10:00
Are there balloons or cards,
199
588031
2295
10:02
or that special blanket on the bed?
200
590350
2212
10:05
That tells the doctor there's a connection
to the outside world.
to the outside world.
201
593471
3700
10:09
If that patient has someone
in the outside world
in the outside world
202
597195
3697
10:12
to assist them and help them,
203
600916
1913
10:14
the doctor can implement the best care
with that connection in mind.
with that connection in mind.
204
602853
4364
10:20
In medicine, people
are connected as humans
are connected as humans
205
608075
3186
10:23
before they're identified
as doctor and patient.
as doctor and patient.
206
611285
3232
10:27
But this method of enhancing perception --
207
615699
2555
10:30
it need not be disruptive,
208
618278
1478
10:31
and it doesn't necessitate
an overhaul in looking.
an overhaul in looking.
209
619780
2800
10:35
Like Jorge Méndez Blake's sculpture
of building a brick wall
of building a brick wall
210
623173
3969
10:39
above Kafka's book "El Castillo"
211
627166
2834
10:42
shows that more astute observation
can be subtle and yet invaluable.
can be subtle and yet invaluable.
212
630024
4835
10:47
You can discern the book,
213
635835
1778
10:49
and you can see
how it disrupted the symmetry
how it disrupted the symmetry
214
637637
2326
10:51
of the bricks directly above it,
215
639987
2351
10:54
but by the time you get
to the end of the sculpture,
to the end of the sculpture,
216
642362
2476
10:56
you can no longer see the book.
217
644862
1808
10:59
But looking at the work of art
in its entirety,
in its entirety,
218
647108
3120
11:02
you see that the impact
of the work's disruption on the bricks
of the work's disruption on the bricks
219
650252
4280
11:06
is nuanced and unmistakable.
220
654556
2308
11:09
One thought,
221
657529
1397
11:10
one idea,
222
658950
1662
11:12
one innovation can alter an approach,
223
660636
3662
11:16
change a process
224
664322
1530
11:17
and even save lives.
225
665876
1894
11:20
I've been teaching visual intelligence
for over 15 years,
for over 15 years,
226
668599
3753
11:24
and to my great amazement
and astonishment --
and astonishment --
227
672376
3216
11:27
to my never-ending astonishment
and amazement,
and amazement,
228
675616
2776
11:30
I have seen that looking at art
with a critical eye
with a critical eye
229
678416
3528
11:33
can help to anchor us in our world
of uncharted waters,
of uncharted waters,
230
681968
3412
11:37
whether you are a paramilitary trooper,
231
685404
2239
11:39
a caregiver, a doctor or a mother.
232
687667
2949
11:43
Because let's face it, things go wrong.
233
691156
2574
11:46
(Laughter)
234
694678
1001
11:47
Things go wrong.
235
695703
1210
11:48
And don't misunderstand me,
236
696937
1347
11:50
I'd eat that doughnut in a minute.
237
698308
1647
11:51
(Laughter)
238
699979
1058
11:53
But we need to understand the consequences
of what it is that we observe,
of what it is that we observe,
239
701061
4645
11:57
and we need to convert observable details
into actionable knowledge.
into actionable knowledge.
240
705730
4371
12:02
Like Jennifer Odem's sculpture
of tables standing sentinel
of tables standing sentinel
241
710918
3995
12:06
on the banks of the Mississippi River
242
714937
2052
12:09
in New Orleans,
243
717013
1418
12:10
guarding against the threat
of post-Katrina floodwaters
of post-Katrina floodwaters
244
718455
3215
12:13
and rising up against adversity,
245
721694
2785
12:16
we too have the ability
to act affirmatively
to act affirmatively
246
724503
2849
12:19
and affect positive change.
247
727376
1787
12:21
I have been mining the world of art
248
729923
2298
12:24
to help people across
the professional spectrum
the professional spectrum
249
732245
3053
12:27
to see the extraordinary in the everyday,
250
735322
2684
12:30
to articulate what is absent
251
738030
2411
12:33
and to be able to inspire
creativity and innovation,
creativity and innovation,
252
741727
3393
12:37
no matter how small.
253
745144
1461
12:38
And most importantly,
254
746629
1559
12:40
to forge human connections
where they may not be apparent,
where they may not be apparent,
255
748212
3800
12:44
empowering us all to see our work
and the world writ large
and the world writ large
256
752036
4873
12:48
with a new set of eyes.
257
756933
1488
12:50
Thank you.
258
758879
1151
12:52
(Applause)
259
760054
6223
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Amy Herman - Visual educatorBy showing people how to look closely at painting, sculpture and photography, Amy Herman helps them hone their visual intelligence to recognize the most pertinent and useful information as well as recognize biases that impede decision making.
Why you should listen
Amy Herman is a lawyer and art historian who uses works of art to sharpen observation, analysis and communication skills. She developed her Art of Perception seminar in 2000 to improve medical students' observation and communication skills with their patients when she was the head of education at The Frick Collection in New York City. She subsequently adapted the program for a wide range of professionals and leads sessions internationally for the New York City Police Department, the FBI, the French National Police, the Department of Defense, Interpol, the State Department, Fortune 500 companies, first responders, the military and the intelligence community. In her highly participatory presentation, she demonstrates the relevance of visual literacy across the professional spectrum and how the analysis of works of art affords participants in her program an innovative way to refresh their sense of critical inquiry and reconsider the skills necessary for improved performance and effective leadership. The program has been featured in the New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, "The CBS Evening News" and Smithsonian Magazine, among others.
Herman holds an AB, a JD and an MA in art history. Her book, Visual Intelligence, was published in May 2016 and was on both the New York Times and Washington Post bestseller lists.
Amy Herman | Speaker | TED.com