So today I managed to get to the Tate Modern which is currently undergoing refurbishment. Their entire collection is squeezed into a few small galleries, so you have all the people in half the space. And all my loyal readers know how much I detest a crowd. Add to that, about a dozen over-sugared school groups given the assignment of drawing the Picasso and I was about ready to leave five seconds after I got there. I did stick it out and got through it all (albeit quickly), with a few sit downs to observe people moving through the galleries. The most interesting notes I took were while sitting next to a man who was drawing one of the paintings. A schoolgirl asked him: "Are you an artist?" "Yes." "Are you in here?" "Not yet." You go, Artist Guy. The artist I really responded to was a man named Lawrence Weiner, who does phrases that are printed out on a variety of different medium. This one kind of smacked me on the forehead:
PAST AND FUTURE HAVE IN COMMON
NOT BEING PRESENT
Afterward I stopped in at the Globe, where I was informed by an unhelpful guide that I could buy a ticket for a tour and get the exhibit for free, but I couldn't go into the exhibit unless I went on the tour. When I tried explaining I had done the tour (I didn't mention how useless it was unless you're a total pleb) and didn't need to go again, he just stared at me blankly. Moving onward at a brisk pace to keep warm, I did the Clink Museum which was okay interesting. There was FAR too much reading on each wall, and the exhibits looked a little melty-dusty. I also didn't appreciate the "kids involved!" things to do which suggested: "Think how much it would hurt to sit in an Iron Maiden!" "Stand in the Iron Maiden and have your picture taken!" I enjoyed the brisk sea air off the Thames ("O water spirits, console me!") as I trotted onward, and finally landed at London Bridge. It was too cold to really enjoy Southwark, but at least it kept most of the tourists at bay.
Here is a sample of Weiner's work. Note the absence of breeches:
/hi_res/weiner-1.jpg)
3 comments:
Sorry about the lack o' breechs, but if your in town when the Tate is done being refrubished you should go back and give it another shot. Its got some really great stuff, including ( for sheer amusment's sake) the piano that's hangning from the celiing. Just be sure to sit and watch it for a little bit, I promise its worth it.
Oh, but I take a bit of Klimt or Dali any day...neither of them used many breeches...and they are a bitch to build for the modern actor (or director who insists that the clothing not restrict)
Oh, I forgot about Klimt. and I guess Frieda Kahlo is kind of my favourite artist and she didn't wear breeches either...but then again when she painted a person, you could tell it was a person because it LOOKED like a person, not a splashy bit of what the heck is that?!
Post a Comment