From the garishly wild innovation of Jackson Pollack's action painting to the imaginative surrealism of every art students' idol Salvador Dali and not forgetting the great Russian abstract master Wassily Kandinsky, the
Tate Modern is home to the big guns of Modern Art.
Located right on the bank of the River Thames in the former Bankside Power Station in Southwark, central London, the Tate Modern opened in 2000 and is part of the four Tate galleries that display works from the
Tate Collection. It is considered to be the national gallery of international Modern Art (works from 1900 onwards). For some information that might come in handy at your next pub trivia night, the architect who designed the building, Sir Giles Gilbert Scott, is also responsible for the famous red phone boxes found throughout London, bet you didn't know that!
The imposing structure consists of a thirty five metre high and 152 metre long turbine hall which has become the impressive entrance, and is also used for very large sculptural exhibits. The galleries are located in the former boiler house; two floors are dedicated to the Tate collection and the third floor is for temporary exhibitions. A glass penthouse was added to the top of the building and is used as a
bar and restaurant offering spectacular views of London. It's a great place to wind down and have a glass of wine after a big day of art viewing.
Modern Art has received a lot of criticism over the years as it challenges the notion of what we consider to be art. Interpretations can seem outrageously ambitious and some work may not seemingly require a lot of talent. Others have embraced the movement which breaks down tradition and forges new artistic pathways. Regardless of your own opinion, it's safe to say that Modern Art is unique and experimental.
The Tate Modern is free to enter, except for special exhibitions, so what have you got to lose? Even if your knowledge of art is limited, there's sure to be works you've heard of such as Picasso and Warhol. Wander through the rooms with an open mind and see all the different styles and techniques on display. You never know, something might catch your eye!
The Tate Modern is easily accessible as there are several tube stops nearby. A nice option is to get off at St Paul's, enjoy the cathedral, and walk over the Thames on the pedestrian only Millennium Bridge which links St Paul's to the gallery. If you want to tackle two of the Tate galleries in one day, the Tate-to-Tate boat runs between the Tate Modern with the original Tate Britain approximately every forty minutes during gallery hours. Timetabling and ticketing information can be found
here.
We are fortunate that London has so many free art galleries, so let's make the most of these fantastic opportunities.
