Keil Space in Florence champions slow looking as artistic resistance

In Florence, Keil Space for Advanced Art and its Applications, founded by artist Sam Keil, is dedicated to promoting 'slow art' and 'slow looking' as a counter to the frenetic pace of digital communication and chaotic art openings. The space aims to dissolve linear time, offering a contemplative environment where visitors can engage deeply with art. Keil's practice is framed as both aesthetic and ethical, aligning with Wittgenstein's view that ethics and aesthetics are one. The space features soft lighting, immersive sounds, and evocative scents to foster a sensory landscape conducive to quiet concentration. No prescriptive labels are used; instead, a discreet guide accompanies visitors. Qualitative analyses conducted by QDAS, a UK-based qualitative data research firm that has worked with top universities and the World Health Organization, studied over 750 visitors aged 8 to over 85, confirming the space's positive effects on empathy and ethical attitudes. Keil Space is presented as a platform for neuroaesthetics research, where collections guide viewers toward elevated thinking that is reflective, creative, and ethical.