4 Feb - 16 May 2010
Basically, you absolutely have to go to this exhibition. I got free tickets to go to the private viewing and was in there for two and a half hours. I would have stayed longer but that was how long we wered allowed in there, bieng late at night and all. There are about 13/14 rooms filled to the brim of everything you need to know and see about the Avant Garde, Dada, Bauhaus and so much more. The exhibition includes over 350 works including architectural models, chairs, sketches, stained gladd windows, films, magazines, posters... the list goes on and on. You will be enveloped with information and colour. You will be walking around for hours, I garuntee. I'm going to go again, even if I have to pay. (Ooh, get me!)
Tate Modern: Arshile Gorky, A Retrospective
10 Feb - 3 May 2010
I was also lucky enough to go to the private viewing of this exhibition as well. It was a lovely experience. You travel through Gorky's aesthetic life, following every journey his conscience has ever embarked on. From the death of his mother to the fire that detroyed most of his work, you really get a sense of who Gorky is, not only as an artist, but as a person. 'Along with Rothko, Pollock and De Kooning, Gorky was one of the most powerful American painters of the 20th Century, and a seminal figure in the formation of Abstract Expressionism,' says the Tate Modern. Not only do you get to see rare paintings, but some of his sculptures are on display. Unfortunately, Gorky's life was taken by his own hand but this somehow makes his work seem more powerful. A must see!
V&A: Fakes and Forgeries Exhibition and Private Lecture
My oh my, I've been a busy bee. The V&A's smash hit exhibition 'Fakes and Forgeries' Exhibition has been and gone but I was given tickets to attend the private lecture held by my father's colleague Vernon Rapley, head of Arts and Antiques at the Met. Attending the lecture, among others (including the head of antiques at the British Museum and Britain's top forgery lawyer), was Grayson Perry who gave the most amusing speech. We were told by Grayson, wearing a scruffy blazor and odd looking trainers (he assured us that he was Grayson Perry despite the lack of a pink, frilly dress), that forgery is actually quite good, much to Rapley's despair. He once found out one of his pieces was up for auction at Sotheby's. The problem was, he'd never made it. And what was worse, the copy was really poor, causing Perry great offence that people actually thought he'd made it. It was a very interesting lecture, packed full of incredible information. Tracey Emin was meant to attend but, unfortunately, she was a no show. I'll meet her one day, damn it!
Updates:
Just to let you know I did go and see The Sacred Made Real at The National Gallery and the Goya exhibition at Manchester Gallery. Both were fantastic, The Sacred Made Real, expecially. Bieng the last day of the exhibition, it was pretty crowded, but what an atmosphere! Each piece on display was captivating and beautiful, the intricacy of them astounding. It's a shame it wasn't on for longer. The Goya exhibition offered a surprise. In the centre of it stood the Chapman Brothers' Goya recreation. Every print Goya ever made has been recreated by them, in the form of tiny figurines. Really amazing, the detail so meticulous. Anywho, both great exhibitions and thank God I managed to go. I hope you did too!
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