Art for All - The Tate Modern (Tate Modern)

Member Name: Kepler

Product:	Tate Modern
Date:	20/11/07 (279 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: It's free. Vast and diverse collection. Spectacular building.

Disadvantages: Cafe and restaurant prices are steep. Can be quite crowded at peak times.

The Tate Modern is housed in the former Bankside power station, (the building has to be seen to be believed), and was built during the Millennium year. Since that point it has developed into one of London's most sought after attractions. The artworks are spread over 100,000 square feet and are based around a massive turbine hall that serves as the building's entrance, a most spectacular sight!

Access to the gallery is provided by two tube stations, London Bridge & Blackfriars, and I took the former route which involves a pleasant ten minute walk along the bank of the river and I combined it with a quick trip across the London Bridge for a truly stunning view of Tower Bridge, shimmering in the haze in the distance. The gallery is also served by numerous bus routes, so there really is no excuse for missing this magnificent attraction. The gallery is open Sunday to Thursday from 10am until 6pm and from 10am to 10pm on Fridays and Saturdays, and with the exception of two temporary exhibitions (which frequently change) the gallery is free! The Tate Modern has also ensured that the building is fully accessible to wheelchairs and pushchairs and leaflets regarding access information can be found at all the Information Desks.

The mammoth space afforded by the former power station is bedecked with art from the 19th century right through to the present day. There is a lot to see, but it is important not to be put off by the sheer volume of works, and if you plan to see the entire collection I would recommend setting aside a whole day and splitting the trip into two parts. One of the most important pieces of advice I would give is to get to the gallery as early as possible. I arrived at about 10:15am and the gallery was virtually abandoned but by about 1:00pm the place was heaving with people and I found myself jostling for space around the most famous works. I would recommend taking a break around this time and taking advantage of the vast array of eateries situated along the riverbank near the gallery, avoiding the insane prices charged in the gallery's café and restaurant. Then when you are feeling suitably refreshed you can meander back to the gallery where the crowds will have started to ease and you can fully appreciate the splendid collection of art that this gallery has to offer.

The collection is split into categories under a broad range of themes. Located on Level 3 of this 7 levelled building, Material Gestures, a wing featuring Mark Rothko's Seagram Murals and works by Monet and Jackson Pollock, explores post-war European art and American painting and sculpture, as well as a superb range of expressionist and abstract expressionist work. At the opposite end of this level is a collection of art under the title of Poetry and Dream, and displays artworks devoted to Surrealism and also works that have been influenced by or associated with Surrealist themes, including work by Francis Bacon. States of Flux focuses on Cubism and inevitably houses famous works by Picasso, and this was my favourite wing as I love Cubist art. Surrounding the central area there are many displays of photography and other more modern artworks which were influenced by the Cubist movement, including several works of Pop Art among which the most notable are pieces by Lichtenstein and Andy Warhol . Idea and Object is the final theme and is housed on Level 5 along with States of Flux. This wing features a series of works related to Conceptual Art and Minimalism and houses works by Mondrian and Kandinsky.

When judged as a whole the Tate Modern collection certainly has something that everyone can appreciate and while it has many of those head-scratching sculptures such as Marcel Duchamp's 'Fountain' (a toilet), which you either hate or love, it also has its fair share of more mainstream works from famous names that most adults would recognise. The Tate Modern has developed a reputation as one of London's top attractions and I would find it very hard to disagree. During my visit the hours literally rushed by and it wasn't long before I found my inner art critic, commenting on pieces and pondering what the artist may or may not have tried to portray.

If you still find yourself baffled though, there is always the Multimedia Guide which can be hired for £2 from Levels 1 and 2. This portable computer guide offers additional commentary on the pieces, as wells as videos, still images and games and it is definitely worth the £2. On Level 5 there is also a Learning Zone overlooking turbine hall where you can engage in quizzes and games and watch short films based on the artists featured in the gallery. It is well worth a look, especially for children who seem to love the interactive process and touch screens, but also for adults who want to learn more about the pieces that they have seen. The Gallery also supplies lots of activities to help involve families in the art and to help them understand the pieces on show. Children can pick up free activity sheets on which they can create their own masterpieces, and there are also themed routes to follow around the gallery to help get children interested in the collection, called Family Explorer Trails, and they are available from the Information Desks. For £2 the audiotour desk on Level 1 also supplies a special tour aimed at children and is narrated by the children's writer Michael Rosen. The gallery also has three shops, the biggest of which is located on the ground floor and stocks books, artwork prints and various other things, including t-shirts, mugs and art postcards. I would certainly recommend taking a look at the end of your visit, and the prices are reasonable.

The Tate Modern is most definitely a five star attraction for all ages, and I can almost guarantee that nobody would go away from this place having not enjoyed themselves. To me there seems to be something primeval about the appreciation of art and it is something which everybody can enjoy. And one last tip - make sure you take the time to climb to the top of the building (Level 7) for some breathtaking views of London, including St. Paul's and the Millennium bridge. All in all, the Tate Modern is not to be missed.

For information regarding temporary exhibitions and a preview of the collection visit - www.tate.org.uk.

Summary: Definitely worth a visit.