Being from Newcastle, instead of instinctively going down to London to see the art galleries and museums we generally instead decide to head upwards and see what Edinburgh has to offer. I have been to the majority of Edinburgh's galleries and think it's an amazing city for art and culture.They have great classic galleries such as the Portrait Gallery and The National Gallery of Scotland, which hold that very proper and grand feeling as you walk around and observe mainly renaissance art and onto the late ninteenth century. The paintings are generally oil and watercolour of landscapes and people. I like going and wandering around this type of gallery, there is something very British about it all.
However, my favourite gallery to visit in Edinburgh is the Gallery of Modern Art. It's a little further out then the other galleries but it is sat in it's own grounds and as soon as you enter you are surrounded by art visually. The way the gardens are sculptured all appears very modern (designed and resculptured by Charles Jencks in 2002) in contrast with the grand old building. There are sculptures and art pieces even on the grass, capturing your attention straight away.
The first floor of the Gallery of Modern Art is generally used for special Exhibitions, one artist will have a full display and payment will be taken. Although this is a small area, there has been alot of great names to have exhibitions with it. The second floor is the more permanent area, having pieces come in and out on loan but generally keeping the same theme and feel. They have French and Russian early twentieth century art, expressionist modern art including paintings from Picasso and Matisse.
With something for everyones taste the gallery also has post war work. Including pieces from Francis Bacon (who i saw a full exhibition of on the downstairs area one year), Andy Warhol, Lucian Freud and many more. They extend to even more modern work by having pieces from artists such as Damien Hurst and Tracey Emin- Who is currently having a full exhibition there. With such a huge range of artists and styles within the gallery you just never get bored, walking round from one room to the next there is always something new to catch your eye, no piece looks like the last one did and as is the way with alot of modern art you can stand pondering over the meaning behind what can often be some stranges pieces of work for a long while.
I think its great to visit a gallery that stands out and you remember it piece by piece rather then everything as a whole. It's definitely the gallery i would always go back to in Edinburgh.
No comments:
Post a Comment