Went to London with UOS MA group last week. Several standout experiences. William Kentridge at the Whitechapel… a super gallery which,to my shame….had never visited before! A fascinating exhibition…not normally on my to-do list as it was mostly installations and video films. But in the gallery setting it came to life and there was plenty of evidence that he can actually draw exquisitely . So I forgave him and relished in the eccentricity of it all. Well worth a visit…in fact I may even revisit as it was the last place on the itinerary and was feeling quite exhausted by then.
The first place was The Infinite Mix. A blockbuster show in a very imaginative and different venue. A series of video installations some of which left me cold. A film of a hip-hop random performance in a carpark somewhere in Africa, and a 3-D boringly long film of trees in the dark ??? – not my cup of tea….even our tutors turned away in some embarrassment. But a hollowgraph of an opera-singer in a very dark place seemingly floating towards us from a distant corridor was magical. The star turn, however was a multi-layered video with a stunning voiceover and soundtrack leaving us all speechless. All the videos were in large very dark spaces where you stood or sat on the floor…no seats which gave them a wonderful immersive quality. Quite indescribable but a MUST-SEE. I could watch that one endlessly….in fact think I’ve just talked myself into a return visit….must check the dates.
Lastly I nipped into the Rodin show at the Courtauld which was ethereally beautiful – quite small and manageable. Such delicate little drawings with pure economy of line, which gave me inspiration for the life class I am currently attending.
Finally a return visit to the RA and the Abstract Expressionism had to be squeezed in. Our tutor pointed out some flaws in the curation which I hadn’t noticed before but had to agree. Although with such massive canvases to hang it was an almost impossible task I should think. This weekend I was fortunate enough to attend a talk by Ben Street on Jackson Pollock. Ben wrote the audio-guide and was involved in the curation of the show….more of Pollock in my next blog. And finally, we managed to see a lovely selection of Robert Motherwell’s work … for sale!… dream on, at a private gallery across from the RA.
A brilliant day out even if rather a lot to take in! But every time I visit galleries it reinforces the absolute necessity to be present in front of paintings rather than looking at reproductions on paper or computer screens. They give off an aura which cannot be felt in any other way.
Latest floor painting. Frankenthaler stained colours, now to add some Pollock- inspired dribbles and splashes ! It’s about my solo arrival in Queensland back in 1990 with just a backpack and nowhere fixed to stay….a magical moment in my life.
Went to a great lecture yesterday at Gainsborough’s House by Ben Street MA on Jackson Pollock. Ben was a brilliant enthusiastic speaker and he has written, though doesn’t speak, the audio-guide at the RA exhibition on Abstract Expressionism. His talk was so illuminating on Jackson’s work and on the RA show too. Shall have to go back for my 3rd visit now with increased insight.
The talk was followed by a bio-pic of Pollock’s life which was grim. I’m sure they spiced it up a bit for the film but what a life. Full of admiration for Lee Krasner for coping with him. She must have been a saint.
But very inspired by Pollack’s work and can’t wait to try out more floor-painting. I’ve already tried it but keen to do more. Just need to find an empty barn somewhere to really expand the canvas size.
Well!!! with a little help from a friend, I’ve managed to print out my blog to produce hard copies for my Reflective Journal which I have to talk about in a crit on my MA course tomorrow. How impressive is that! Thanks Ceri !
Get so excited when I manage to tame the technology. It’s so often a complete mystery to me but amazing how knowing which button to press can transform your life!
A chance remark from a fellow student, has made my day. I said how much I loved the Ab Ex show at the RA and she immediately said it wasn’t her thing and she didn’t expect to like it. I was surprised that someone could so instantly dismiss something I thought so good. Later, thinking about that, I realized how much I liked her certainty and how sensible it was to not spend or waste more time considering once you’d made up your mind about something.
It made me see how silly it was of me to be agonizing about not going to see the Spill stuff. I have almost a horror of performance art. Much of it makes me cringe. It just isn’t my thing ! Much better to simply admit it and move on. I often feel a sense of guilt if I can’t understand or appreciate some forms of art or some opinion about a subject. It makes me think there is something wrong with my attitude or some gap in my knowledge when, in fact, there is nothing wrong with holding a different view.
I’m lucky to have gained a new studio space for the final year of my MA at Suffolk University. Went in today on a non-contact day and bumped into two friends who were with me on the BA course and who now have a shared space in the Atrium Studios. Also two tutors and two technicians. These random conversations are what makes going into a more distant space so worthwhile. Although I do have a good space at home it is all too easy to get sucked into doing the washing-up, watching addictive,boring TV, making toast… and all those other comforting silly distractions.
So instead I found myself sloshing watery acrylic around..thinking Helen Frankenthaler. Remarking on Sarah’s embryonic DiebenKorn painting and Julie’s lovely mono printing efforts and then promising to meet up with one of my tutors to talk about my painting. Time much-better spent.
