What Makes Us Human: The Gaze — Tate Britain Panel Discussion
TL;DR A genuinely interdisciplinary conversation on visual philosophy and power dynamics in representation, featuring an artist, historian, and philosopher in direct dialogue at Tate Britain.
Why it Matters
This is philosophy as it should be practiced: embodied, visual, and in conversation with practitioners rather than sequestered in seminar rooms. The panel explores the gaze not as abstract theory but as a lived phenomenon in art—how looking creates power, objectifies or liberates, builds intimacy or maintains distance. Featuring visual artist Amalia Ulman (whose work itself interrogates how we're seen), art historian Katharina Guenther, and philosopher Timothy Secret, with chair Dr. Sacha Golob from King's College's Centre for Philosophy and the Visual Arts. This is the rare event where theory meets practice without either compromising the other.
The exhibition "All Too Human" provides the visual context—not a generic backdrop, but a genuine engagement with how representation shapes our understanding of humanity itself. The fact that this is framed as part of a three-part series suggests depth, not a one-off talking-head event.
Where and When
Tate Britain, Clore Auditorium
Saturday, May 12, 2026 | 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM (13:00-15:00)
Part of the "All Too Human" exhibition programming. Register via Tate Britain's website. Free with exhibition entry (or free if you're a member).
Access & Logistics
- In-person only; limited seating in Clore Auditorium
- Arrive 15 minutes early
- Expect a mixed crowd: art students, philosophers, curators, and serious visual culture enthusiasts
- The other two parts of the series will likely explore different philosophical dimensions of representation
Insider Note: King's College's Centre for Philosophy and the Visual Arts is one of London's most sophisticated interdisciplinary philosophy spaces. This event is their fingerprint. If you're interested in how philosophy actually intersects with visual culture, this is essential.