| Must Visit : The Whitechapel Gallery - London |
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| Written by Solange | ||||||||||||||||
| Thursday, 30 April 2009 17:51 | ||||||||||||||||
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LONDON The Whitechapel Gallery is the darling of London's art world and, you will find it right at its heart.  Some would argue that in 1901, when the gallery first open, London's East End was an unlikely setting.
In these days, Whitechapel's slums packed in dark alleyways were closely associated with Jack the Ripper's horrendous murders. And yet, this gallery dreamt up by an Anglican Clergyman called Samuel Barnett to exhibit “the finest art of the world for the people of the East End,” to bring works of beauty to the poorest part of the capital, achieved much more. Very quickly, it became a keystone in the art world, influenced, launched and consolidated the work of generation of artists. For visitors the Whitechapel gallery provides one of the most vibrant and exciting art destination in London. For the budding artists studying at the near by Sir John Cass, Department of Art, Media & Design the gallery with its library, pioneering education and public events play a “unique role as a leading contemporary art quarter”.
“There is always something free to see”. Most of the shows are free with a few exceptions, in 1939, when Guernica's Picasso made its first and only appearance in Great-Britain, the artist suggested that the price of admission should be a pair of working men's boots. Thousand were collected and sent to the Spanish front. Precious Guernica now hangs in Madrid's Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía, far too fragile to travel. But the Whitechapel is a gallery which does not forgot its past. For the re-opening, the current director Iwona Blazwick with the help of London-based Polish artist Goshka Macuga has secured a year-long loan of a life-size tapestry replica. The replica belongs to the Rockefeller Estate and famously hangs outside the Security Council Chamber in the United Nations Headquarters, New York, to offer a deterrent to war. In the last five decades, many contemporary great artists have exhibited their work: in 1958, Jackson Pollock was a novelty to many with his abstract paintings in 1961 it was Mark Rothko's turn in the 70's and 80's David Hockney, Gilbert and George, Richard Long in the 80's and 90's Cindy Sherman, Anish Kappor, to name but a few in the 00's younger generations of artist have shown their work, such as Nan Golding
Thorough the gallery policy was to buy work from artists at early stages in their careers. The result : “The British Council Collection”, now composed of 8000 pieces making it “one of the most impressive public collections of the 20th century British art in the world”. An exhibition of the Great Early Buys is on display until the 14 June 2009 including work by Lucian Freud, Bridget Riley, Damien Hirst. The renovation and extension of the Whitechapel gallery took 2 years and costed £13.5 million. The exhibition spaces have been beautifully opened to encompass the former library next door, more than doubling the space. Designed by Belgian architects Robbreche en Daem in collaboration with leading British artist Rachel Whiteread CBE famous for her “inside out houses” sculptures. The building kept its original look on the outside; no steps at the front entrance to allow pedestrians to casually walk in. Walk in, as million did in the past, to be greeted by elegant spaces which simplicity enhance the works of art displayed. The first rooms host Isa Genzken's Open Sesame! This is the first retrospective of this sculptor who is widely regarded as one of the most important German artists of her generation. Her multi-media work, is themed around architectural forms, the lost of the natural world and, is created with “the stuff of consumer culture”: shutters, blinds, blocks of concrete.
April-June programme: Isa Genzken: Open Sesame! Is on show till 21 June 2009 Goshka Macuga: The Bloomberg Commission till 18 April 2010 British Council Collection: Great Early Buys- till 14 June 2009 The Whitechapel boys which is an hommage to the long vanished East End's Jewish communty, on show till September 2009 Ursula Mayer till June 2009 Minerva Cuevas: S-Coop till 7 June 2009 John Hobal NewWork award throughout the building till 21 June 2009 Recent figures are not released yet, but I am reliably informed that the eagerly awaited re-opening of the Whitechapel gallery was a great success. Demonstrating that the need for inspiring art exhibitions is alive and so the public will continue to support and love this important space dedicated to art for art sake. The Whitechapel gallery is closed on Mondays and can be found 77-82 Whitechapel High Street nearest tube Algate East. My thanks to Elizabeth Flanagan Communications Officer at Whitechapel Gallery for her help Photo-credit to Marcus Dawes for photo of Great Early Buys from the British Council Collection -Girl with Roses- Lucien Freud- http://www.whitechapelgallery.org/ Bookmark us: 
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| Last Updated on Friday, 19 June 2009 19:10 |
