Tate Modern

Posted by Griffin. This week Beth and I went to Tate Modern. The museum sits in a converted factory on the bank of the Thames, and the brick silo strikes a dramatic figure against the London sky. The entrance opens into a ginormous concrete hall, with hallways that spill into various galleries.

The exterior of Tate Modern

The galleries are organized thematically, instead of chronologically, which I like. I feel that specifically with modern and contemporary art organizing thematically gives individual pieces context that organizing chronologically does not. The first gallery that we went to was the "Energy and Process" gallery. This gallery had a large number of works, many from, or influenced by, the Italian "Art Provera" movement. This movement was all about using everyday objects to create art. For example the sculpture seen below is made up of only two metal plates, with no attachment, it relies entirely on balance to stay upright. This art is powerful, the materials prompt the viewer to think about their relationship with the material.

Triphammer by Richard Serra

The next gallery that we went to was the pop art gallery. This gallery featured a wonderful collection of works by Andy Warhol and Ray Lichtenstein. These works are fun. They use popular images, hence the name "pop art", to create art. One of my favorite works was Whaam! By Roy Lichtenstein. This work takes it source from a comic, and Lichtenstein replicates comic in painstaking detail, even using the colored dots that comics use to create shaded color. This work is a powerful statement against warfare, and reminds us about the social power of art.

Whaam! by Roy Lichtenstein

Unfortunately we had to cut our visit short in order to get to the theater, but I highly recommend Tate Modern. The galleries are spacious and the art is accessible and enjoyable. However if visiting during the week prepare yourself for school groups, Tate Modern is one of the most visited tourist attractions in London, so go early (or late) to avoid the crowds.