Homecoming

by Ruth Barker, 6 Mar 2010

Hello,

On the train back to Scotland after spending a few days in London (just doing some research for a current project). I went to see the Henry Moore retrospective at Tate Britain, and would heartily recommend it to anyone who (like me) tends to think of Moore in relation to large-scale, contextually conservative, permanent works in front of banks. The show is a great look at the evolution of a sculptural practice that, when seen together like this, demonstrates an incredible articulacy and sensitivity. Completely new to me (probably shamefully) were Moore’s drawings, which I found hugely moving. Also fresh were his war works, and his mining drawings – complicated series of images and forms that still carry an eloquent weight and social power. Good to see.

At the British Museum was a similarly eye-opening exhibition of Mexican printmaking. Titled Revolution on Paper: Mexican prints 1910 – 1960 the exhibition concentrated on lithographs, but it was also good to see the more publicly disseminated side of printmaking represented through the inclusion of posters and book jackets. Coming out of the museum I ran into a friend who had happened upon this graphic intervention. Though very far from revolutionary (!), it was good to see that people are still intervening in their public space.

Other useful stuff I was lucky enough to see included the Chris Ofili show at Tate Britain, and The Kingdom if Ife at the British Museum. It was brilliant to be able to spend a whole day each in both the V&A and the British Museum, studying some of the items in their collections. Amazing but exhausting, a dedicated day-long trip to either one is something that everyone should do at least once, I reckon. I’ll warn you though – you still won’t make it round everything! For the temporary exhibitions though, the Kingdom of Ife is particularly relevant in terms of thinking about the relationships between art-making, culture, and public space. Go see it if you can, and let me know what you think.

While I was away, I was also liaising (cue appreciation of modern technology) with performance artist Shelly Nadashi, who will, I’m very happy to announce be working on PAR+RS’ first ever commissioned artwork. Hooray! As a lead into our Spring / Summer 2010 Temporary Projects Season, Shelly will be devising a series of public performances that will take place in Germany (where she is at the moment), Poland, and Scotland. I’m really pleased that Shelly’s agreed to take on the commission, and I’m thrilled that we’re going to be able to follow her progress in an exclusive Blog. I can’t wait to find out what form her final piece will take!

Anyway, writing this on the train, and great as London always is, I’m also very much looking forward to being back home.

More later,
R