Usually the only point upon which everyone agrees when it comes to art, is that everyone’s opinions are different, and all are of equal importance.
Last night, Eloqui went to the launch of the new contemporary art strand at the Foundling Museum in Russell Square; a great little museum telling the story of the Foundling Hospital, London's first home for abandoned children. This current work by Terry Smith features a film, projected onto a blank wall in the basement, accompanied by eerie noise which penetrates the entire building, a strange yet almost (but not quite) angelic warble, varying in volume from quiet and reserved, to loud and thundering.
Standing in the dark, underground gallery with lots of arty-types, the installation immediately captured our attention. But, not quite as much as the man in the flowery dress. After some debate amongst ourselves, we realised this was Grayson Perry, the Turner Prize-winning artist.
Being the suckers for celebrity as we are, and the fact that it’s not every day you get the chance to meet a winner of the Turner Prize – let’s face it, this is no reality TV reject – we had our photo taken!
The contrast of Perry’s alter-ego ‘Claire’ standing amongst the Foundling’s 18th century treasures was a sight to behold; a unique moment which was added to by the now familiar warble filtering in through the doors of the gallery – filling what usually (especially in a museum) would be a quiet and reflective space, with a noise that feels as if it shouldn’t really be there.
But, oddly, the collision of old and new art works, and in some ways, this very modern installation feels totally at home in the Baroque surroundings.
The whole point about art is that you don’t have to get it. Is there really a difference between a painting of a long-dead aristocrat and a black-and-white photocopied image of a door frame, and, ultimately, does it really matter?
Last night, Eloqui went to the launch of the new contemporary art strand at the Foundling Museum in Russell Square; a great little museum telling the story of the Foundling Hospital, London's first home for abandoned children. This current work by Terry Smith features a film, projected onto a blank wall in the basement, accompanied by eerie noise which penetrates the entire building, a strange yet almost (but not quite) angelic warble, varying in volume from quiet and reserved, to loud and thundering.
Standing in the dark, underground gallery with lots of arty-types, the installation immediately captured our attention. But, not quite as much as the man in the flowery dress. After some debate amongst ourselves, we realised this was Grayson Perry, the Turner Prize-winning artist.
Being the suckers for celebrity as we are, and the fact that it’s not every day you get the chance to meet a winner of the Turner Prize – let’s face it, this is no reality TV reject – we had our photo taken!
The contrast of Perry’s alter-ego ‘Claire’ standing amongst the Foundling’s 18th century treasures was a sight to behold; a unique moment which was added to by the now familiar warble filtering in through the doors of the gallery – filling what usually (especially in a museum) would be a quiet and reflective space, with a noise that feels as if it shouldn’t really be there.
But, oddly, the collision of old and new art works, and in some ways, this very modern installation feels totally at home in the Baroque surroundings.
The whole point about art is that you don’t have to get it. Is there really a difference between a painting of a long-dead aristocrat and a black-and-white photocopied image of a door frame, and, ultimately, does it really matter?
Paul Childs
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