I visited Queensland's Gallery of Modern Art last friday and immediately my phone was shooting off. Welcomed by a celebration of food projects, it sure felt like 'Harvest' (title of current exhibition - until 21 September, free admission) season. I was definitely ready to dig into the crops. Love at first sight, the gorgeous fruit landscape of Shahbazi's Still life: Coconut and other things, took my breath away by its enormous 2D dimension and of course vibrant fruit colours (that could well be identified on a luxurious Hermes scarf). Without a doubt, I absolutely had to take a photo in front of it - resulting the shameless both-hands-in-the-air, cheesy smile photos you see below. Here's a too-much-love/accidental moment: security guard told me to step in front of the canvas a bit more because I was too close to it. Michel Tuffery's Povi tau vaga (The challenge) left a deep impression. From afar you may have recognised the cow and applauded the artist's cow-resembling-work artistry. However the moment you step closer and see what it's made of, you'll find yourself staring at a raging bull, plastered with aluminium, corn beef tins, which are held together by rivets. A mighty creation with a powerful message. Last but not least, I simply could not forget one of Ai Weiwei's artworks that I witnessed on the 1st floor of the gallery. It was Coca Cola vase 2011, a Han dynasty vase that had been destructed by a huge, red Coca Cola advertisement label. This seemingly 'destructive' act questioned the value of an object once placed in a new situation. Han dynasty ceramics were regarded highly because of their 'refined lines, elegant proportions and the quality of their glazes', which was defined and thought of by the art market. Yet once the vase is re-configured with 'Coca Cola', the historically precious status of the vase is disrupted and new contemporary values are placed upon it. Shirana Shahbazi. Still life: Coconut and other things 2009. Robert MacPherson. Mayfair: (Swamp rats) Ninety-seven signs 1994-95. Michel Tuffery. Povi tau vaga (The challenge) (detail) 1999. Luo Brothers. Untitled (Children with lemonade bottle/Baby and tiger/Kirin beer/Children with storks) 2000. Tracey Moffatt. From First Jobs series 2008. Martin Creed. Work no.189 1998. Nam June Paik. TV cello 2000. Emmett Williams. Sense Sound 1955. Song Dong. Stamping the water 1996. Ai Weiwei. Dropping a Han Dynasty urn 1995. Gosia Wlodarczak. Personal Space Southeast Walls: 78x4=312 2004. Giuseppe Chiari. Eight opera graphics (portfolio) 1975.
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After months of yearning to go to Tate Modern (but simply wasn't bothered to take on the distance) my last-minute trip to South bank was decided. At mid-day I hopped on the Hammersmith & City line (14 stops) and transferred for 2 stops onto National Rail from Farringdon to London Blackfriars. Long journey fully worth it. I visited every floor with a free admission gallery (three floors + multiple galleries in total.) All the different mediums fixated/positioned with purpose against a clean white backdrop really elevates you to another atmosphere. In particular, I felt most impact when I visited the different forms of sculptures in the Constructionism gallery, the eye-opening medium forms used in the Energy and Process gallery, and last but not least, the breathtaking compositions in Transformed Energy: Identity Politics (Room 8.) Many photographers' works also brought my attention: Harry Callahan, Graciela Iturbide and Miyako Ishiuchi. Below are a selection of my favourite artworks, paintings and sculptures I observed throughout the museum. 1. Jannis Kounellis: Untitled. 1979
2. Joan Miro: Women and Bird in the Moonlight. 1949 3. Henri Laurens: Autumn. 1948 4. Pablo Picasso: Nude Woman in a Red Armchair. 1932 5. Russian Revolutionary Posters 6. Maria Helena Vieira da Silva: The Corridor. 1950 7. Fred Wilson: Grey Area. 1993 8. Glenn Ligon: Untitled. 2006 9. Henk Peeters: Burn Hole. 1961 10. Annette Messager: The Pikes. 1992-3 11. Susumu Koshimizu: From Surface to Surface. 1971 12. Seung-Taek Lee: Godret Stone. 1958 13. Ben Nicholson: 1934 (relief). 1934 |