London Art Galleries - Tate Modern
Important Modern Art Gallery in London on the Bank of the Thames.
May 18, 2008
London Art Galleries - The Birth of Tate Modern
Tate Modern came into being as part of the celebration of the new Millenium in 2000. It is housed in the former Bankside Power Station which closed down in 1982. The building’s artistic life began with the transfer of the modern art collection from Tate Britain which is now the home of British art from 1500 to the present day.
As a place for the display of art the sheer size of the building was unprecedented. The nearest comparison would be a religious structure. Tate Modern faces St. Paul’s Cathedral so, although they could not be more different in appearance, in size they balance each other very well, with the new Millenium Bridge linking them across the River Thames.
Although not beautiful in the classical sense, it is a striking, distinguished building. And it is enormous! It contains a huge turbine hall, thirty-five metres high and 152 metres long, and this became the main entrance to Tate Modern. Here are displayed works of art that, because of their large size, would normally have to be shown out of doors. When Tate Modern opened, the first work of art to appear in the Turbine Hall was the magnificent 9-metre-high steel and marble spider by the French-born American sculptor Louise Bourgeois.
The most dramatic way to enter the building is to ignore the side doors and walk alongside a small avenue of silver birch trees to the ramp at the western end, The ramp leads you directly into the vast former turbine hall. Upon first entering Tate Modern one art critic wrote that he felt he had died and gone to art heaven - so spacious, so grand, so light was the impression that the newly adapted building gave. Even if you are not interested in art you must see this building.
London Art Galleries - Tate Modern Tate Modern - The Collection
The collection of international modern art now housed in Tate Modern runs from 1900 to the present day and includes major works by Bacon, Dalí, Picasso, Matisse, Rothko and Warhol as well as recent works by many comtemporary artists. There is also an extensive range of special exhibitions and a programme of events throughout the year. Entrance to the permanent collection is free but there is a charge for special exhibitions.
London Art Galleries - Tate Modern - Other things on offer
Tate Modern does not limit itself to the traditional arts of sculpture and painting. There are special exhibitions of photography, street art, film, as well as music and performance. Something for everyone here.
It is a great place for lunch, dinner or drinks with cafés and a restaurant and bar, all overlooking the River Thames, St Paul's and the City of London.
Take the ‘Tate to Tate’ boat ride along the Thames to Tate Britain for an interesting trip along the river and, if you are not completly ‘cultured out’, take a look at a completely different collection in a completely different building.
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