Skip to main content
Skip to footer Skip to Acknowledgement of Country
National Gallery of Australia
What's On Art & Artists Visit
Login
  1. Home
  2. On Demand
  3. Video
  4. NVAEC 2019 Day 1 Keynote: John Armstrong
Video still of man giving presentation.

NVAEC 2019 Day 1 Keynote: John Armstrong


John Armstrong (The School of Life) Art as Therapy Abstract: The central function of art is therapeutic: that is, to assist us with the normal emotional problems of life. This can sound strange today but it is a very traditional view. The therapeutic approach to art indicates specific tasks for art education: about what we'd ideally be doing when we're engaging with a work of art, and what we may need help with. The general tendency is away from specialist knowledge of art works towards greater attention to the problems in our own lives. Biography: John Armstrong Global Philosopher-in-chief for The School of Life which has branches in 11 countries. His latest book 'Art as Therapy' was written jointly with Alain de Botton. Armstrong was born in Glasgow, educated in Oxford and London and moved to Australia in 2001. He is the author of nine books, including 'In Search of Civilisation', 'Love Life Goethe', 'The Secret Power of Beauty', 'How to Worry Less About Money' and 'Life Lessons from Nietzsche'. For five years he was Senior Advisor in The Office of the Vice Chancellor, University of Melbourne and in 2014 was a Professorial Fellow at the University of Tasmania. He is now based in Hobart and Italy. For further information about the National Visual Art Education Conference held at the National Gallery of Australia from 21–23 January 2019 visit www.nga.gov.au/nvaec.


Featured Works of Art


Andy Warhol, Salvatore Silkscreen Company, Factory Additions

Campbell's Soup I
1968

Ricky Maynard, Sandy Edwards, Ben Lomond/Cape Portland peoples

Portrait of a Distant Land
2005

More from Australian Art


Artist Interviews /  Audio

Florence Martin
James Gleeson Oral History Collection

A drawing of two dancing figures in red and orange costumes with similar coloured head pieces

Published 2015

James Gleeson interviews Florence Martin, 28 May 1979.

80 minutes
Australian Art /  Video

Jon Campbell

Published 2014

Video

Neil MacGregor NGA Robert Hughes Lecture 2012

Video still of a black and white photograph.

Published 12 December 2012

Australian Art /  Video

Reflecting on Know My Name

A video still of a woman speaking to the camera, standing in front of an artwork

Published 17 November 2020

Australian Art /  Video

Sydney Long 'Flamingoes'

Published 16 December 2010

Talks & Lectures /  Video

Artist talk: Sandra Hill
Defying Empire: 3rd National Indigenous Art Triennial

Video still of artist speaking

Published 2017

  • All videos
    in Australian Art
  • More from First Nations


    First Nations /  Video

    Yirawala 'Maralaitj, mother of the tribes'

    Published 17 December 2010

    First Nations /  Video

    Judy Watson ‘Canyon’

    Published 2016

    First Nations /  Video

    Judy Watson's ‘Palm cluster’

    Published 2016

    First Nations /  Video

    Clifford Possum Tjapaltjarri 'Warlugulong'

    Video still of a close up shot of painting.

    Published 17 December 2010

    First Nations /  Video

    Lorna Brown Napanangka 'Grandfather's Country at Warren Creek'

    Video still of a close up shot of painting.

    Published 17 December 2010

    First Nations /  Video

    This Place: Artist Series – Julie Gough

    Video still of artwork up close.

    Published 24 February 2020

    Artist Julie Gough uses her art to bring to life people, places and events from Tasmanian colonial history.

  • All videos
    in First Nations
  • More from International Art


    Talks & Lectures /  Video

    The History of Art History

    A video still of a graphic that says Botticelli to Van Gogh, Masterpieces from the National Gallery of London, The History of Art History

    Published 11 March 2021

    Professor Emerita Claire Farago and Professor Art History & Theory, Dr Rex Butler in conversation with National Gallery curator Sally Foster.

    Auslan Interpretation Closed Captions
    International Art /  Video

    Jackson Pollock's 'Blue poles'
    The conservation research project begins

    Video still of two men looking at painting.

    Published 24 June 2020

    Jackson Pollock’s Blue poles 1952 has gone under the microscope for its most comprehensive conservation project to date.

    Video

    NVAEC 2016 - Keynote session 2 - Prof Howard Gardner

    Published 15 June 2016

    Video

    Kids and Families experience the NGA's Hyper Real exhibition

    A video still of a family looking at a sculpture in an exhibition

    Published 01 March 2018

    International Art /  Video

    Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec 'La Goulue entering the Moulin Rouge'

    Video still of a close up shot of painting.

    Published 21 December 2012

    International Art /  Video

    Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec 'Portrait of Dr Henri Bourges'

    Published 21 December 2012

  • All videos
    in International Art
  • More from Learning


    Video

    NVAEC 2019 Day 2 Featured Artist: Sally Smart

    A video still of a woman giving a lecture with a projection to the right

    Published 15 February 2019

    Video

    Lawrence Butler 'The Governor King secretaire bookcase' 1803–1806

    A video still of a man inspecting a wooden bookcase

    Published 2013

    Video

    Milingimbi Easter panel' c.1965

    Video still of a close up shot of painting.

    Published 2013

    Video

    NVAEC 2019 Day 1 Featured Artist: Ben Quilty

    Video still of man giving presentation with slideshow playing alongside.

    Published 14 February 2019

    Video

    Dr Dougald O'Reilly

    Video still of artwork shown during presentation

    Published 11 October 2016

    Video

    Hugh Ramsay Symposium - Gray (NGA) - Ramsay + Lambert

    A video still of a woman giving a lecture to a seated audience

    Published 05 June 2015

  • All videos
    in Learning
  • More from Talks & Lectures


    Talks & Lectures /  Video

    Artists in Conversation: Micky Allan
    Know My Name

    A video still of a woman standing above an artwork

    Published 11 February 2021

    Hear from leading Australian artist Micky Allan in conversation with curator Elspeth Pitt.

    Auslan Interpretation Closed Captions
    Architects Speaker Series /  Audio

    Nick Tobias – Tobias Partners
    2011 Contemporary Australian Architects Speaker Series

    Photograph of interior wooden space with grass in background

    Published 2011

    This annual lecture series showcases the latest work of renowned contemporary Australian architects.

    72 minutes
    Artist Interviews /  Audio

    David Aspden Interview
    James Gleeson Oral History Collection

    A painting of red, yellow, orange, brown and beige irregular shapes on top of a dark brown canvas

    Published 2015

    James Gleeson interviews David Aspden, 28 May 1979.

    28 minutes
    Talks & Lectures /  Video

    Robert Hughes and The Shock of the New
    Presented by the American Friends of the National Gallery of Australia

    a screenshot of a video showing a close-up image of the art critic Robert Hughes.

    Published 21 July 2020

    Robert Hughes’ inner circle discusses his life and work on the eve of the 40th anniversary of his landmark series and book, The Shock of the New.

    54 minutes
    Video

    NVAEC 2019 Day 3 Featured Artist: Lisa Reihana

    A video still of a woman giving a lecture with a projection to the right

    Published 15 February 2019

    Australian Art /  Video

    Hugh Ramsay: Curatorial Introduction

    Video still of lady looking at paintings

    Published 01 August 2020

    Head of Australian Art at the National Gallery, Dr Deborah Hart, introduces us to a young and talented Hugh Ramsay.

  • All videos
    in Talks & Lectures
  • Recently Added On Demand

    View all

    First Nations /  Video

    The Aboriginal Memorial - Ramingining Community Singing In

    Published 25 July 2022

    The Ramingining Community singing in the newly located Aboriginal Memorial Poles

    77 minutes
    Architects Speaker Series /  Audio

    Andrew Cortese – Grimshaw, Sydney
    2021 Contemporary Australian Architects Speaker Series

    Photograph of dark building on grass with trees

    Published July 2022

    This annual lecture series showcases the latest work of renowned contemporary Australian architects.

    82 minutes
    Architects Speaker Series /  Audio

    Madeleine Blanchfield Architects
    2021 Contemporary Australian Architects Speaker Series

    Photograph of white domestic interior with open door and staircase

    Published July 2022

    This annual lecture series showcases the latest work of renowned contemporary Australian architects.

    60 minutes
    Architects Speaker Series /  Audio

    Nathanael Preston and Daniel Lane – Preston Lane
    2021 Contemporary Australian Architects Speaker Series

    Photograph of domestic exterior with large concrete balcony above

    Published July 2022

    This annual lecture series showcases the latest work of renowned contemporary Australian architects.

    62 minutes
    Architects Speaker Series /  Audio

    Abbie Galvin – New South Wales Government Architect
    2021 Contemporary Australian Architects Speaker Series

    Photograph of woman in blazer, black and white

    Published July 2022

    This annual lecture series showcases the latest work of renowned contemporary Australian architects.

    58 minutes
    Talks & Lectures /  Video

    NAIDOC Week 2022 | Mirdidingkingathi Juwarnda Sally Gabori, Kaiadilt people

    Photograph of smiling man against a backdrop of an indigenous artwork

    Published 08 July 2022

    This NAIDOC Week, Bruce Johnson-McLean, Wierdi/Birri Gubba peoples, finds himself in Paris surrounded by the work of Sally Gabori

    Audio Tour Open Captioning
    4 minutes
  • On Demand Video

    Didn't find what you were looking for?

    Search On Demand
    Video still of fog surrounding garden.
    Go back to start of main content
    Go to top of page

    Yuuma, Gurruburri

    The National Gallery acknowledges the Ngunnawal and Ngambri peoples, the Traditional Custodians of the Kamberri/Canberra region, and recognises their continuous connection to culture, community and Country.

    • National Gallery On Demand
    • Art & Artists
    • What's On
    • Visit
    • Membership
    • Donate
    • Jobs
    • About Us

    Connect

    +61 2 6240 6411
    information@nga.gov.au
    Get art in your inbox

    Open every day

    (except Christmas day)
    10am – 5pm

    Ngunnawal and Ngambri Country
    Parkes Place East, Parkes ACT 2600

    View Street Map
    View Gallery Map


    Contact us

    National Gallery of Australia

    Follow the National gallery of Australia on:

    • Instagram
    • YouTube
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    Website Privacy Website Disclaimer Website Copyright
    Opening Acknowledgment of Country

    The National Gallery acknowledges the First Peoples of this land and recognises their continuous connection to culture, community and Country

    Learn More
    birds-eye view photograph of bushland
      • View All
      • Today
      • Exhibitions
      • Access Programs
      • All Programs
      • On Demand
      • About the Collection
      • Sculpture Garden
      • Kenneth E. Tyler Collection
      • Provenance
      • Conservation
      • Copyright
      • Search the Collection
      • Plan Your Visit
      • Getting Here
      • Parking & Transport
      • Art Store
      • Dining
      • Visiting with Kids
      • Research Library & Archives
      • Admission tickets
      • Browse Stories
      • Browse Videos
      • Artonview Magazine
      • Podcasts
      • Audio Tours
      • Virtual Tours
      • Learning Programs
      • For People with Access Needs
      • For Teachers & Students
      • For Young People
      • For Kids & Families
      • For Adults
      • For Your Community
      • Art Cases
      • Educator Programs
      • Get Involved
      • Membership
      • Voluntary Guides
      • Partnerships
      • Support
      • Donate
    • First Nations
    • Access
    • Art Store
    • Media
    • Venue Hire
    • About Us