Last week I went to two very contrasting spaces both designed to show artistic works. The New White Cube gallery in Bermondsey is a commercial space designed specifically to showcase the work that is exhibited there. The Sir John Soane Museum in Holburn began life as a private collection within the house of the architect Sir John Soane 1753- 1837. The house has now become a museum and is slowly being restored to how it would have been upon Soane’s death in 1837. Sir Soane is interesting as he had a lot of involvement with what is considered the first free public art gallery in Britain, Dulwich Picture Gallery. I am thinking of visiting the Picture Gallery in the course of my research, but for now the house, now the museum is at the focus of my research.
The space in the house is in complete contrast to the space of the White Cube Gallery. And so it would be, they were conceived nearly 200 years apart. It would appear that the concentration within both spaces is on the collections they hold. This is very apparent within the White Cube as the space is obviously designed not to be considered within the viewing of the work. It is a boring bare space, the work displayed inside it is what brings the interest. This would appear to be so that the attention is on the work rather than the space holding the work (I know, I really need to read Inside the White Cube, Brian O’Doherty, and it’s on my shelf at home, honest!)
Sir John Soane Museum is different. Perhaps this is partly due to the fact that it is called a museum not a gallery (I’m sure I have more literature to read in this area too.) Originally the house was used by Soane to show off his collections of artistic objects from around the world. These include plaster copies of sculptures, many from the Vatican, an Egyptian sarcophagus and a room dedicated to paintings. The display of the works, and the nature of the house itself beg to be explored, every corner holds something new.
As much as I am interested and enjoy the works of Anslem Kiefer, whose work was on show at the white cube, I found I enjoyed visiting the Sir John Soane Museum far more. Perhaps that’s because I love old houses, especially unusual ones. Perhaps it’s also because I felt less like I was there because I ought to go and see some art (even though it was suggested to me in a tutorial). The differences between these spaces are something that I am going to consider further in my research, which will eventually lead me to making some work.
