Origins of the White Cube

May 2015

Read Thomas McEvilley's introduction to Inside the White Cube; the Ideology of the Gallery Space, which provides a good summary of O'Doherty's suite of essays.[...] Note down the key points of your own reflection in your learning log. OCA Course material

Source: O’Doherty, B. (1999) Inside the White Cube: The Ideology of the Gallery Space. University of California Press

At the very beginning of this course I read the essay for follow up work from an OCA Study Visit (Aspirations) Les Monaghan February 2015. It will be interesting to see if my thoughts differ after visiting more galleries. See Exhibitions page


McEvilley suggests that O'Doherty sees the White Cube as a parallell to a mediaeval church, the pyramids or Mesolithic caves with the outside world not allowed in, white walls, no windows and only light from the ceiling.  This, he theorises, encourages posterity and timelessness. It is symbolic and ritualistic.

By creating an unchanging space, a magical place is provided to view art work where the viewer beholds the artwork with a group of like-minded individuals. It becomes a spiritual meeting place with a code of values and behaviours to follow. 

"The white cube was a transitional device that attempted to bleach out the past and at the same time control the future by appealing to the supposedly transcendental modes of presence and power." O'Doherty (1999 p11)

During this course I have visited exhibitions in numerous art galleries:

DART - Aspirations, Les Monaghan - White Cube effect? No

Because of the informality of the presentation - photographs printed on sticky backed paper that could be taken down and moved from one place to another, and because the room was set up like a classroom, this did not feel like a spiritual place. Discussion was encouraged - no hushed voices. 

NEC- The Photography Show - various photographers- White Cube effect? No

At the NEC, photgraphers talk through their work, encouraging audience participation. This is very informal. there are more formal areas such as the exhibitions on the walls. Often these are presented very close together and tend to be competition entrants rather than a body of work by one person. The place is too noisy and bustling to hold any kind of reverence.

National Media Museum, Bradford -Drawn by light - various photographers - White Cube effect? No

Perhaps because this is a museum with children running in and out of the galleries and talking loudly, with people taking their own photos of the photos it does not hold the reverence. Even though to study a famous artwork close up such as Steve McCurry's Afgan girl (1985) allows you to step back and admire the image, you are still aware of all that is happening around you. 

Nottingham Trent Photography Degree Show - various student photographers in different galleries in Nottingham - White Cube effect? No

Urban spaces painted white, small art galleries and students present often chatting or eating lunch. If the unwritten rules are broken by the exhibitor, they will be broken by the viewer. One student was even dismantling his work early!

Southwell Minster - MOVE various photographers - White Cube effect? Partly

The fact that the exhibition is in a place where there is already reverence and a code of conduct means that the effect is pretty close. People spoke in whispers. During my visit a group of adults with carers visited, and were interested, asking questions. It made the art available to all.

Nottingham University, Lakeside Arts Centre - Emily Allchurch White Cube effect? Partly

The space here is dark, although the walls and ceiling are light. It is often quiet with interested people visiting. It is the closest I have come to a White Cube.

Mansfield Museum - Chris Upton - White Cube effect? No

The museum has a couple of galleries. This is the largest and had a big audio visual slide show with commentary of miners recollections. The visitors consisted of ex- miners and people interested in local history or photography. I visited with fellow OCA student and we talked all the way round.

The Lowry - mix of audio visual and photographic presentations White Cube effect? No

This interactive exhibition was fairly noisy and then suddenly it all went quiet. That was when I realised I had come to the end of this exhibition and walked into one on Lowry. It was interesting to see the difference that presentation has on the atmosphere.

So I think to find "the white cube effect" it is partly up to the viewer to be able to shut off from the outside world and admire the works. I find it difficult, always aware that I could be interrupted by a message or phonecall. What is the aim of my visit? If it is because it of something I have an interest in, I will view it differently, perhaps with a more technical approach than just enjoyment. I tend to go with an agenda; even to the student degree shows I will have researched the students work that appeals to me or which links into my course. Perhaps I should be asking myself if I need to seek out the experience of the white cube? I think over the course of planning my personal project and the interest I have had from people I have met, that I would like my work to be accessible to all people. After all, I work in an operating theatre which is like a white cube!