Art of the matter
Visual treat
A Moore sculpture here, a Dali there, or even Sandro Botticelli and Neil Cox... Janardhan Roye walks us through London, where there are opportunities aplenty to view exquisite art in public places.
High art in public places? That’s London. Some of man’s finest artistic creativity and inventiveness, sourced from diverse corners of the world, are there for viewing by the common man, not just in the museums and art galleries, but in the common public domain.
While at auction houses, Sotheby and such, great works of art change hands and a Tayeb Mehta’s untitled painting, depicting a hand-pulled rickshaw or Gustav Klimt’s ‘Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer’ are sold for frighteningly large sums, the common art lover seldom gets to see such original work.
On the other hand, there are opportunities aplenty to view exquisite art in public places.
A Moore sculpture here, a Dali there or even Sandro Botticelli’s ‘Birth of Venus’ replicated in powder, chalk on a pavement or Wynn’s girl with a dolphin and its counter-point, a boy with dolphin statue in Cheyne Walk. Then there are Kindersley’s ‘Seven Ages of Man’ pillar or the sculptures carved out of tree trunks near Victoria Park that has Neil Cox’s dazzling ‘Mother Nature’ on Queen’s Av. In Hyde Park, for instance, stunningly large and beautiful groups of statues stop passers-by near the Albert Memorial. The sprawling work, ‘Asia’, has an eye-catching Indian lady atop an elephant, elegantly holding up her pallu.
“In London, where it rains buckets, there are museums and galleries to duck into and at the same time to take in some ‘astonishing diversity of art treasures’ in one easy go,” said my friend and guide Kini. Sample places recommended for visits — both in fair and bad weather!
National Gallery — Often ranked on par with Paris’ Louvre, the National Gallery hosts a dazzling array of creative work right from the medieval to modern times —- da Vinci’s ‘Virgin of the rocks’, Botticelli’s ‘Venus’, van Gogh’s ‘Sunflowers’ and such sumptuous works. There are special arrangements for viewing illuminated medieval paintings. In addition, the National Gallery promotes interest in art through popular events for the entire family through fun-filled workshops, film screenings and lectures. In between, to rest heels, rehydrate and mull over what the senses have taken in, there are cafes, wine bars and a brasserie.
National Portrait Gallery — Next door to the National Gallery, this 1856-founded repository of portraits now holds rare, historical paintings, photographs and caricatures numbering in thousands! Famous personalities such as young Elizabeth I, Jerome K Jerome, Twiggy, Mick Jagger, the Beatles, and J K Rowling come alive in 3-D display. Of particular interest to Indian visitors are the rare portraits of Mughal Emperor Jahangir, Raja Ravi Varma’s oleographs of Radha and Lady on the swing, the humanitarian-hugger, Amma, and poet Javed Akthar.
Tate Britain — It has a unique collection of rare ‘British art’ right from 1500 to the present times. On the north side of the Thames, this erstwhile prison converted to a centre for historical to contemporary art, boasts of Pre-Raphaelites and neo-classicists and such art. The exhibits are imaginatively grouped by ‘association’ as well as chronology.
Tate Modern — Britain’s ‘cultural cathedral’, located in a converted power station, is perhaps the world’s biggest art gallery — again open to the general public. The plethora and variety of permanent and moving exhibitions have changed the very concept of modern art. What was considered ‘serious’ or ‘boring’ is now ‘cool classy entertainment’! Millions of visitors pull into this cavernous two-floor gallery to drink in the art of Picasso, Matisse, Edward Hopper, Mark Rothko, Duchamp, Man Ray, Dali, Magritte, Miro, Roy Lichtenstein, Andy Warhol and such geniuses of our times. On display presently is the classic marble sculpture, ‘The Kiss’, one of the three full-scale versions by Rodin.
‘Dense, vibrant, and abundant’ and with dollops of showmanship and beautifully done rooms and avante garde innovations — multimedia interactives, mobile and such hi-tech devices — mark the Tate Modern. Visitors get a good idea of the direction art galleries are taking.
Royal Academy of Arts — This is the place for more traditional viewing of art. Located in a marvelous building off Piccadilly, this independent art centre, privately funded by eminent artists and architects, has been promoting ‘the creation, enjoyment and appreciation of the visual arts through exhibitions, education and debate’. And that has been happening right from 1768. Presently, RAA’s attractions include the works of Reynolds, Gainsborough, Turner, Constable, Sargent, Spencer and Hockney.
In addition to these well-known institutions, there are several other places for indulging in ‘great art’:
Somerset House — This 18th century building with an enchanting courtyard, dancing fountains and pleasantly decorated rooms has paintings of Monet, Manet (and his great last painting, ‘A Bar at the Folies-Bergère’), van Gogh, Gauguin, Degas and Cézanne, and other impressionists and modern artists. In addition to the displays, Somerset House is known for its bold, youth-driven programmes where ‘high art’ comes to tango with outstanding live performances and visual arts events.
Saatchi Gallery — At Sloan Square, the Saatchi brothers who made their mega-bucks in advertising have set up an ultra-modern gallery of contemporary art. Here the bold works of ‘unseen young artists’ get a chance for exposure… and a chance at fame and fortune.
The Barbican Art Gallery — It displays some of the world’s best known architecture, design, and fashion photography. Exhibits range from ‘animation shows’ to Star Wars models. Depending on what’s on, the Barbican Art Gallery offers a unique service to ‘visually impaired’ visitors. Known as ‘Live Guiding’, this service has specially trained guides to offer insights into the items on display. In some cases, visitors are encouraged to a ‘feel’ of the works.
“Public or indoor art can be unexpected moments of beauty, amusement, reflection or intrigue,” said Kini. In London, this statement takes on a special meaning. Some of man’s most profound accomplishments in creativity and inventiveness are there for constant delight — enriching daily life for the connoisseur as well as the lay man, and often at the most unexpected turn in public places.
