The renowned Serpentine Gallery, named after the Serpentine Lake located nearby, is a renowned institution which specialises in contemporary and modern art. The establishment’s exhibitions, architectural highlights, public programmes and educational initiatives draw a steady stream of visitors, amounting to no less than 750,000 annually. This renowned gallery had its inception in 1970 and was housed in what was then a typical 1934 tea and refreshment pavilion. Even today, admission to the institution is free of charge.
Artists of note whose work has been featured here include such luminaries as Henry Moore, Man Ray, Andy Warhol, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Bridget Riley, Paula Rego, Anish Kapoor and Christian Boltanski, amongst many other eminent individuals in the artistic sphere. As you enter the gallery, you will see a permanent artwork created by Ian Finlay and Peter Coates, in honour of the former patron of the Serpentine, HRH Diana, the Princess of Wales.
This institution was initially envisaged by the Arts Council of Britain and during its early years was only accessible to the public in the months of summer. Notably after the year 1991 under the Directorship of Julia Peyton Jones, the gallery was comprehensively renovated and refurbished. A noteworthy exhibition conducted in 2006 was a display of modern Chinese Art housed in South London’s Battersea Power Station, which also provided the public with a rare look inside this familiar landmark.
One of the gallery’s best known initiatives is its yearly commissioning of one of the world’s leading architects to create a pavilion on the lawns of the gallery, thereby providing a splendid showcase for the display of modern architectural motifs. This pavilion is the subject of a high-profile programme of talks, film screenings, BBC programmes and other features. Since the year 2000, the Serpentine Gallery has hosted the creation of a pavilion by such eminent architects as Sou Fujimoto, Peter Zumthor, Frank Gehry and Oscar Niemeyer amongst a host of other renowned architects. A visit to the gallery will undoubtedly be a rewarding experience for anyone with an interest in contemporary art and architecture. Affluent visitors seeking a suitable luxury hotel London will be delighted by The Halkin London. This outstanding luxury boutique hotel London offers provides sumptuous accommodations and gracious hospitality.
Angela Fernando is an impassioned travel writer who composes pieces under the pen name Sumaira Narayan. She loves writing about new and exciting places around the world and hopes to visit them all someday. Google+
