Tate Modern, opened in 2000, is a gallery in London which celebrates modern and contemporary art. Although there are some paid displays and exhibitions, there are some collections of art that people can enjoy for free.
Firstly, I went to the Start Display in the Natalie Bell Building on the 22nd October 2018, where I saw ‘Antennae with Red and Blue Dots’ created by Alexander Calder. It was hanging from the ceiling and it moved slowly as there was air current passing by. I thought that it was very interesting to see as it balanced perfectly. The dots on the ends of the wire made it easier to see the sculpture moving as the wire was quite thin. ‘The Snail’, a piece by Henri Matisse was also in the same room. I liked this piece as the colours were very bright and vibrant. Matisse had created it by tearing shapes from paper which had been painted using gouache. As he was confined to his bed due to ill health, the shapes were pasted down by his assistant under his instructions. Additionally, I thought ‘Strip’ by Gerhard Richter was beautiful. The colours were well chosen as in perfect horizontal lines. I later learned that the artist created many pieces which were similar.
During my visit, I noticed that there were more children in Tate Modern than there were in The Natural History Museum, where I went in the morning. I found this surprising as I thought that children would be less interested in modern art and more passionate about wildlife. However, I think it was nice to see children enjoying the art alongside their parents.
After visiting some rooms in the Natalie Bell Building, I walked across to the Blavatnik Building via the bridge on level 4. I went to the Living Cities and saw ‘Los Mocos’ by Mark Bradford. I was immediately interested as it reminded me of a map. When I read the caption, I found that the artist used some materials which he found near his studio in Los Angeles. I liked this as it provides a strong connection to the inner city.
Great review, Victoria!
I like Tate Modern, not only because they have a wonderful collection of art, but also the building itself is amazing. Do you think it adds to the experience?
Is there anything you didn't like about the museum, anything they could improve?