Google Arts & Culture's 'Name That Art' lets kids describe masterpieces

Google Arts & Culture's 'Name That Art' video series pits children against art experts in a game of describing artworks. In one episode, 7-year-old Obie interprets Rodin's 'The Thinker' as a man defecating, while 5-year-old JJ perfectly describes a painting by Yue Minjun, imitating the facial expressions. Alexa, also 5, imagines Frida Kahlo as sad because she wants to go to the beach but cannot because it is night. The series, produced by Google Arts & Culture, asks children to describe artworks to adults, while experts—critics, curators, professors—try to identify the piece. The results are often illuminating, as children's uninfluenced eyes notice unusual details and offer fresh interpretations. The article was published on Artribune in August 2017.