On a windy and rainy afternoon of last week in London, boyf
and I took an underground journey to Liverpool street to go here, Whitechapel
Gallery.
Just off Brick Lane, on Whitechapel High Street, Whitechapel
Gallery was founded in 1901 with the aim to bring great art to the people that
live in the East End of London. The building was designed by Charles
Harrison Townsend, an English architect, that projected the public building
in London 1895-99.
The design of the building is identified with Art Nouveau or
Arts and Crafts style, even if Townsend had his own unique style. This building
is one of three of his major works.
Through the years, the gallery has hosted a
number of famous artists’ works including the likes of Hockney, Picasso and
Miro.
The gallery stands on 2 floors, Level 0 and Level 1,
there’s a bookshop, a cafè/ bar and the Whitechapel Gallery Dining Room.
Summer 2012 hosts at level 0 two galleries; The London Open
and The Bloomberg Commission: Josiah McElheny: The Past Was A Mirage I’d Left Far
Behind.
The London Open exhibition has on offer some of the most
dynamic works being made today in London.
I liked the imitation Versace silk scarf featuring Saddam
Hussein’s gold taps by Pio Abad and
the coffee cups of Paul Westcombe
where he has used old coffee cups as canvases for his intricate illustrations.
On Level 1 there are six galleries including the Government
Art Collection and the Children’s Art Commission: Eva Rothschild: Boys and
Sculpture.
I found the work of Eva
Rothschild interesting. She filmed a group of boys between 6 and 12, each
entering a gallery full of her sculptures. At first the boys curiously look
around them and interact mainly by looking at all the works. They then proceed
to slowly dismantle the sculptures, play with them, and cause a bit of havoc by
completely trashing the place.
The museum is free to visit, if you’re in the area, a trip
there is worth it!
My museum bookshop buy -
Visit the museum at - http://www.whitechapelgallery.org/home
