A panel of art and film experts celebrate the life and work of art critic and writer John Berger at a unique day of screenings and discussion, featuring rare films from the BFI National Archive.

Examine Berger’s ascent into art criticism and his burgeoning career as a broadcaster crowned by his most famous work, ‘Ways of Seeing’ and enjoy some of his less familiar interpretations of art and visual culture including footage never rebroadcast on television since it first aired.

Consider how Berger defined himself as a storyteller, reflect on what it means to watch him on film at the National Gallery, and contemplate his enduring contribution to the way we interpret fine art.

Programme:

Part one: The art of looking.

Examine Berger’s ascent into art criticism and his burgeoning career as a broadcaster. Alongside his most famous work, ‘Ways of Seeing’, we will watch other, lesser-known works interpreting visual culture.

Part Two: Storytelling.

Berger defined himself as a storyteller. These works see Berger combine criticism, philosophy, autobiography and narrative, proving there are no lines drawn between critique and creativity.

Part three: Berger Unbound.

Can we determine Berger’s legacy to art history? What does it mean to screen Berger’s works in the National Gallery? What is his enduring contribution to the way we interpret fine art and its relationship to society?