You can say whatever u like about London’s dismal weather but it’s a fact that the London sky photographs gorgeously: a remarkable striation of color, countless shades of grey and blue, dense clouds with whimsical outlines – some sunlit and brilliant white, others dark and ominous. Took some wonderful pictures from the Millennium Bridge that links the Tate Modern to St Paul’s Cathedral.
The Tate Modern wasn’t half bad either, though my favorite area, the Turbine Hall, is closed for construction work. Artwork that stood out: Peter de Francia’s “A little night music” (which connects musical instruments to instruments of torture) and “Romulus and Remus” (which shows modern day military leaders being suckled by a wolf). His work is inspired by Francisco de Goya who too created sinister allegories about the violence and politics of his times. The entire room was filled with works that spoke of “Civil War” (including a detailed figure from Picasso’s Guernica and a hellish scene that portrays figures literally melting into one another (Malangatana Ngwenya’s untitled piece from 1967 about Mozambique’s war of independence against Portuguese colonizers). Sadly all too real, still. Another image that sticks in one’s mind is Richard Hamilton’s “The citizen” which is inspired by IRA prisoners on the “no wash” protest. It draws parallels between the blanket-clad protesters and images of Christian martyrdom.
Finally, the Mark Rothko room was profound as usual. The lights were dimmed to capture the solemn mood and colors of Rothko’s Seagrams murals. People automatically lowered their voices and preferred to view the giant canvases while seated in silence. Such is the effect his work has on many of us.
