Tate Britain

Focus on shape and pattern:

Anish Kapoor 


Eduardo Paolozzi




Interesting colour and shape combinations that took my eye. Interesting ways of placing form and structure together as well as the involvement of tone or strictly block colouring. Considering shape combinations and grid systems in order to produce and incorporate distortions or strict structures into my own practice. 


Rachel Maclean - Wot U :-) About?

http://www.tate.org.uk/whats-on/tate-britain/exhibition/rachel-maclean-wot-u-about

'They present a vision of society that is at once seductive and nightmarish, exaggerating contemporary preoccupations and behaviours.'

This was probably one of the most bizarre yet interesting pieces of video art I have seen. Maclean does a spectacular job of creating a juxtaposing utopian and dystopian future concurrently existing, playing into the human insecurities of our needs for likes and attention on social media - and our subsequent struggles for a false sense of perfection. Maclean creates an environment within the gallery space that is colourful wacky and somewhat out of place to the normal high art that is welcomes into these sort of institutions.

As I visit the Tate Britain often, these are some piece which I see often from their permanent collection that I enjoy. The colours in the works below work against each other as the complementary orange and blue combine in a vibrant way to confuse the viewer as to whether it emits feels of coldness or warmth. The styles contain elements of creepiness within the imagery yet the vibrancy places the subjects in a more positive light.  This is definitely a style of drawing that attracts me and is similar to some of my own depictions, which I could use within my graphics work when considering juxtaposing darker imagery with celebratory colours. 




In addition, 'Carnation, Lily, Lily, Rose' 1885-6, is one of my favourite paintings of all time. I don't normally enjoy photo realistic paintings, however I find the fluorescent colour of the lanterns to be amazing when compared to other paintings of its time, which have a very mundane palette. In this way it is a one of a kind scene that seriously draws in the viewer to its innocent scene.