Silver Arts Award
Sharing my arts review
By Evie Omer, Tunbridge Wells Girls' Grammar School
Introduction:
For Part C of my Silver Arts Award, I needed to experience an arts event and review it. I have to review the trip as an audience member. I visited a few photographic exhibitions at two different galleries in London.
Where it was:
The Photographers' Gallery - Ramillies Street, London.
The Getty Images Gallery - Eastcastle Street, London.
Both galleries I visited were off Oxford Street.
When I attended:
Tuesday, 16th February 2016
What art form was it?
Photography, so it was relevant to my art form.
What was involved:
I went to the Photographer's Gallery first, where they were showing three very different photographic exhibitions. The first one I saw was called 'Easter Rising 1916: Sean Sexton Collection' which was about the riots and rebellions in Ireland for independance. It explored the significant role played by photography in informing the pu
At the Getty Images Gallery, the only exhibition was called: 'A Year in Focus - 2015'. It was my favourite exhibition out of those that I saw because the photos were all so vibrant, relevant, exciting and interesting.
The pictures ranged from the Rugby World Cup to the refugee crisis, to Katy Perry and Kanye West! They covered many events that happened worldwide in 2015. I really liked the bright colours and sharp focus in the images. The photos were taken by a range of anonymous photographers and put together by Getty Images' editorial team.
Have I seen anything like it before?
Yes, I have been to other photographic exhibitions similar to those I saw on my recent trip.
My Thoughts
What was good and why:
I really liked the way that the photos were presented in the exhibitions, because it helped me realise that a photo can become so much better if you really think about your presentation.
I also liked the fact that in every exhibition, the images told a story, whether it was an event or just a scene. Every time I looked at the pictures I saw something different.
So, the main good points were the presentation and self-interpretation of the featured photos.
What was not so good and why:
This is hard because all of it was good, but in the 'Saul Leiter: Retrospective' exhibition, I think some photos weren't relevant to the exhibition theme: abstract New York street scenes.
For example, photos of models for the magazine Harper's Bazaar were included, when thet had nothing at all connected to the theme. Some examples of pictures that don't fit in are:
-'Tilly' - January 1964
-'Barbara Hides' - 1945
-'Sleep' - 1955
However, that is only if I was being very picky! Overall, the exhibitions were excellent.
Would I recommend it and why:
Yes, I would certainly recommend you visiting these exhibitions at the Photographers' Gallery and Getty Images Gallery.
I think you should because they will educate you about things that happened, inspire you to try new things (presenting photos differently; combining photography with painting) and the pictures will definitely make you go "Wow!" especially in the Getty Images Gallery.
What I learnt from it:
I have learnt lots from my visit, but the main points I have taken from it is to:
-Make sure that my photos are relevant to my theme.
-Present them differently if I can.
-Try out using different types of media to make my photos more interesting and unique.
As well as learning photographical skills, I have also learnt about the fight for Irish independance and the coup in Uruguay.
I have really enjoyed going to see these events as an audience member.
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