Salami English: Whitechapel Gallery

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!