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Tate Modern


stunsworth

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Thanks, the thing about modern art is that 90% of it is crap. The important thing to remember is that 90% of _everything_ is crap :-)

 

This was my first visit. I think the main problem at the Tate Modern is how to fill the turbine hall, it's so big it's a heck of a challenge for anyone.

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Steve,

 

As a fan and member of Tate Modern, I'd have to disagree with the 90%

 

The slides are great fun, I tried a few over xmas. Made me feel very dizzy. As for the space, these artists have all used it to excellent effect IMO;

 

Tate Modern | Past Exhibitions | Exhibitions

 

Tate Modern | Past Exhibitions | Exhibitions

 

Tate Modern | Past Exhibitions | The Unilever Series: Olafur Eliasson

 

Tate Modern | Past Exhibitions | The Unilever Series: Rachel Whiteread

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James, remember what we see in the Tate is the tip of the iceberg :-)

 

I actually enjoyed almost everything there. I have no aversion to modern art at all and didn't mean to give that impression, sorry if the 90% quote sounded like that. Perhaps what I should have said is that 90% is mediocre at best.

 

I nearly burst out laughing at the small sledges trying to escape from the VW van. Excellent stuff.

 

The only area that I _do_ have a problem with is video instalations. I really struggle not to see them as poorly made films most of the time :-)

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Anyone know where I can get a giant inflatable turbine made up? I fancy a go at the Turner. ;)

 

Art is many things to many people, there is a body of folks who think that really badly composed photographs are art, apparently.

 

Is it OK to use a camera in this place? I got a major bollocking in the Baltic in Newcastle last year for shooting, and even a bollocking on this very forum (old version) for including a photograph in my photograph.

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Steve –

 

Terrific angle and catch. I think you are applying the term modern too broadly, and I suspect that most of what you object to is not modern or even post modern, but contemporary. In 2000 the Whitney Museum (just American art) mounted an exhibition called the American Century. The first 50 years (1901-1950) ran for two months and was absolutely stunning. Most of the pieces were from the modern period. The second half of the century, to our tastes, was awful, and the first piece we saw was by Kiki Smith and of a life-size nude in white plaster crawling with a two meter long or so fake line of excrement exiting the body and strung out behind in a straight line. Similarly, as members of MoMA we went to the members’ preview of the expanded and refurbished building, a lot of which you can see on the first New York page of photos on our site (mostly building interiors, but also some pieces from the permanent collection). In the new, huge mezzanine they had recently acquired, contemporary pieces, most of which while more appealing to me than Kiki Smith’s, were not that much better. As we wandered the space we heard an elderly gent loudly ask the guard, “Where’s the good stuff?”

 

I've not yet been to the Tate Modern. Perhaps in the spring or fall.

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Hi Stuart, not really, most of what is in Tate Modern is contemporary stuff - hence the name :-) - and I liked most of it. I just have a problem with 'installations' ;-).

 

If you do visit, there's a very convenient river boat that goes from Tate Modern to Tate Britain just upstream from the houses of parliament.

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Steve,

 

A lot of the works on display aren't really that modern. It's really worth having a guided tour or trying some of the regular seminars/workshops they hold, to understand the context of the works. I'm not saying I like it all, definately not, some of it just leaves me cold but my mind has definately been opened since I started visiting regularly.

 

Did you see the video of the clowns, jumping up and down shouting NO! ? My godson loves that. Always makes me laugh too :D Before you ask, no I don't understand it!

 

As for photography, I've no idea what the official line is but it seems that it's fine in the Turbine Hall and other open spaces, but not in the actual galleries - I guess for the usual copyright reasons. The thing I really love about Tate Modern is that it's not at all stuffy, it's ok to talk, it's really loud for a gallery.

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Did you see the video of the clowns, jumping up and down shouting NO! ? My godson loves that. Always makes me laugh too :D Before you ask, no I don't understand it!

 

Yes I did see it, and yes I laughed, and no I didn't understand it either :-)

 

Ok, there's _one_ video installation that I like ;-)

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if it needs someone to explain... it ain't art.....

Hmm, I can't agree. There's a lot of contemporary symbolism in art that gets lost when it's viewed from a distance - take Tudor art as an example. To really understand the art in the context in which it was made you need to know the symbolism IMHO. Just what did that ferret running up Liz's garter represent?

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Hmm, I can't agree. There's a lot of contemporary symbolism in art that gets lost when it's viewed from a distance - take Tudor art as an example. To really understand the art in the context in which it was made you need to know the symbolism IMHO. Just what did that ferret running up Liz's garter represent?

Heck Stuns, you got me banged dead centre to rights there Guv. Tracey Eminem does leave me a bit cold, what wiv er boat race like a slapped kipper an all; ferrets is another discipline contiguously though. innit? ;)

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Thanks, the thing about modern art is that 90% of it is crap. The important thing to remember is that 90% of _everything_ is crap :-)

 

This was my first visit. I think the main problem at the Tate Modern is how to fill the turbine hall, it's so big it's a heck of a challenge for anyone.

 

Steve,

Without getting myself and others into a tizzy about what constitutes art, I would add 5% to both your estimates.:)

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