On Friday eve I eschewed my usual grotty Hoxton pub eve of cheap vodka and naughty antics and went and “did some culture”. Armed with my newly procured Tate membership I crossed the river to the Tate Modern and headed to the new Pop Life: Art in a Material World exhibition…
Whilst I understand that this focuses on the materialisic nature of our society, I did leave the exhibition feeling a little bit flat. It all feels a bit ‘bitty’. Whilst there is lots of Andy Warhol at the beginning, a re-creation of Keith Haring’s Pop Shop and a whole sectioned off room dedicated to Jeff Koons‘ (far too gratuitous) explicit work, everything else feels a bit cobbled together. Even Damien Hirst’s Spot Paintings was disappointing, though mainly as the appointed identical twins supposed to be sitting under the paintings had nipped out for a fag when we arrived.
There are some good bits, of course, but overall I’d say that Pop Life is worth seeing only if you don’t have to pay for it.
How very ironic.
Pop Life @ Tate Modern microsite
Tags: Andy Warhol, Damien Hirst, Jeff Koons, Keith Haring, Pop Life, Pop Life Tate, Pop Life Tate Modern, Tate Modern
13 October, 2009 at 00:32
I happened not to pay, so I can’t judge on that. I have been told, however, that there are massive queues to the exhibition – I suspect somehow the magnetism of those artists in there still has some appeal to people’s minds and wallets.
13 October, 2009 at 12:11
Oh definitely…the names are big, it’s just the curation and the layout is poor. In my opinion, anyway.
I went on Friday evening and it wasn’t so busy, though I imagine on the weekend it will be….