Having a bit of spare time and craving some "culture", I decided to spend a day in Liverpool and visit 2 exhibitions that I had read about and thought might be quite interesting.
My first stop was the Tate Liverpool at the Albert Dock http://www.tate.org.uk/liverpool/ for the Jake & Dinos Chapman exhibition, "Bad Art for Bad People". There was a lot of hype surrounding this exhibition regarding its shock factor - so I went intrigued to see just exactly how horrified I would be.
It certainly did what it said on the tin - there was plenty of BAD art! Some of it laughable and some of it down right awful. The brothers are of my generation and so show influences of everything from Video Nasties, low grade porn to toy soldiers. Unfortunately in their attempts to shock they take a 12 year old's perspective - the more "rude bits" the more shocking it is! They also show an unhealthy fascination with Nazism which proliferates much of their work but doesn't seem to be making any sensible point - again it comes across as quite puerile.
.. But when they are good they are very very good - the detailed work in which they ripped off Goya and re-worked him are wonderful pieces of fine draughtsmanship (but why not see the real Goya instead?). I also appreciated the miniture model work - mainly because I know how long it must have taken them to assemble and paint all the soldiers! The highlight of the show was the new work - the fake African carvings which they had managed to work the McDonalds logo into - they were really quite funny! Would I recommend it? Yes - if you had £5 and a couple of hours to spare and wanted to see what all the fuss was about - but not if you were expecting to see something really challenging and profound.
My afternoon's outing was the Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool city centre http://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/walker/ . I went with the express purpose of seeing an exhibition "Doves & Dreams" showcasing the work of two of the "Glasgow Four" who were Charles Rennie Mackintosh's close collaborators.
This is the first major exhibition of its kind devoted to the avant-garde art of Frances and J Herbert McNair, exploring their life and work in both Glasgow and Liverpool and featuring watercolours, graphics, furniture, metalwork and decorative art. The exhibition spotlights the achievements of these two remarkable artists: McNair, the innovator and inspirational teacher and his wife, Francis Macdonald, sister-in-law to Charles Rennie Mackintosh, who produced some of the most remarkable symbolist watercolours of the early 20th century.
I can't express what a joy it was to view this exhibition, in comparision with the morning's lame experience. The beauty and quality of what was produced by these two people in the late 1800's/early 1900's makes you suspect that the Chapman brothers will wither away to obsurity quickly (and quite rightly so!). Whilst the style and period are an acquired taste (you either love it or hate it), I think that even the most jaded could see some merit in the exhibits.
The McNairs were so talented that their work takes in a wide variety of mediums and there is beauty in the details. Whilst they were part of Mackintosh's close circle, they maintain enough individual style to avoid being accused of being derivative and stand in their own right as artists.
I would urge you to go see it - on till 22 April 2007 - it's free and it is probably one of the only times you will get to see all of these pieces together. Also take time to see teh rest of the Walker Gallery (again free) - it has a wonderful Pre-Raphelite collection - which is a great bonus!
My first stop was the Tate Liverpool at the Albert Dock http://www.tate.org.uk/liverpool/ for the Jake & Dinos Chapman exhibition, "Bad Art for Bad People". There was a lot of hype surrounding this exhibition regarding its shock factor - so I went intrigued to see just exactly how horrified I would be.
It certainly did what it said on the tin - there was plenty of BAD art! Some of it laughable and some of it down right awful. The brothers are of my generation and so show influences of everything from Video Nasties, low grade porn to toy soldiers. Unfortunately in their attempts to shock they take a 12 year old's perspective - the more "rude bits" the more shocking it is! They also show an unhealthy fascination with Nazism which proliferates much of their work but doesn't seem to be making any sensible point - again it comes across as quite puerile.
.. But when they are good they are very very good - the detailed work in which they ripped off Goya and re-worked him are wonderful pieces of fine draughtsmanship (but why not see the real Goya instead?). I also appreciated the miniture model work - mainly because I know how long it must have taken them to assemble and paint all the soldiers! The highlight of the show was the new work - the fake African carvings which they had managed to work the McDonalds logo into - they were really quite funny! Would I recommend it? Yes - if you had £5 and a couple of hours to spare and wanted to see what all the fuss was about - but not if you were expecting to see something really challenging and profound.
My afternoon's outing was the Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool city centre http://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/walker/ . I went with the express purpose of seeing an exhibition "Doves & Dreams" showcasing the work of two of the "Glasgow Four" who were Charles Rennie Mackintosh's close collaborators.
This is the first major exhibition of its kind devoted to the avant-garde art of Frances and J Herbert McNair, exploring their life and work in both Glasgow and Liverpool and featuring watercolours, graphics, furniture, metalwork and decorative art. The exhibition spotlights the achievements of these two remarkable artists: McNair, the innovator and inspirational teacher and his wife, Francis Macdonald, sister-in-law to Charles Rennie Mackintosh, who produced some of the most remarkable symbolist watercolours of the early 20th century.
I can't express what a joy it was to view this exhibition, in comparision with the morning's lame experience. The beauty and quality of what was produced by these two people in the late 1800's/early 1900's makes you suspect that the Chapman brothers will wither away to obsurity quickly (and quite rightly so!). Whilst the style and period are an acquired taste (you either love it or hate it), I think that even the most jaded could see some merit in the exhibits.
The McNairs were so talented that their work takes in a wide variety of mediums and there is beauty in the details. Whilst they were part of Mackintosh's close circle, they maintain enough individual style to avoid being accused of being derivative and stand in their own right as artists.
I would urge you to go see it - on till 22 April 2007 - it's free and it is probably one of the only times you will get to see all of these pieces together. Also take time to see teh rest of the Walker Gallery (again free) - it has a wonderful Pre-Raphelite collection - which is a great bonus!
