Virtual art exhibitions during quarantine and their impact on aesthetic appreciation movement

With the spread of covid-19 all over the world in 2020, which also crept into Egypt, most countries had been prompted to have a considerable period of compulsory quarantine that affected different aspects of human activities. Such events encouraged artists to follow different ways to express their artistic works. One of the essential approaches utilized in Egypt was presenting artworks through virtual art exhibitions. The current work's objective is to investigate the effect of such virtual art exhibitions on art appreciation in Egyptian society. The study uses the descriptive and analytical approach in investigating the relationship between art and crises, suffering and fear of the unknown and the impact of all of this on the artist, especially the Egyptian artist, affected by his distinctive environment and love for art, expression and aesthetic appreciation , besides analyzing the approach of the virtual exhibition, limits of use and responsibility towards them and their impact on the artist’s career and exploring the various exhibitions that were held In that period. An electronic questionnaire was developed to estimate the vision of expert artists and art education students toward virtual art exhibitions. The questionnaire results showed an attraction towards virtual art exhibitions due to their advantages; continuity of artistic activities, the wide spread of the artworks locally and internationally, low cost, and involving some of the artists' family members in art practice. However, virtual art exhibitions lack real interaction, discussion, and realizing artistic work details.



Key words: Virtual art exhibitions, quarantine, aesthetic appreciation, Egyptian society.