The splendid Tate Modern is a renowned gallery focusing on modern art situated in London. It has the distinction of being the United Kingdom’s national gallery for global modern art. Attracting about 4.7 million guests every year, it is also the world’s most-frequented institution for contemporary artworks. The establishment is housed within the building which once functioned as the Bankside Power Station.
Tate Modern’s collections encompass creations of international contemporary and modern art which date from 1900 to the present day. Initially the museum was organized into several broad thematic groups, but in 2006 the gallery was given a comprehensive re-arrangement.
The collection entitled ‘Poetry and Dream’ is located in an expansive centrally located room devoted to Surrealism, with adjacent rooms featuring the works of artists considered to have been influenced by the Surrealist approach and its techniques. Meanwhile ‘Material Gestures’ turns the spotlight on expressionism, abstraction and abstract expressionism, showcasing the creations of artists like Anish Kapoor, Claude Monet, Barnett Newman, Henri Matisse, Tacita Dean and Mark Rothko.
Not to be missed is ‘States of Flux’ with its focus on Futurism, Cubism, Pop Art and Vorticism. The works in this collection belong to names like Roy Lichtenstein, Pablo Picasso and Andy Warhol, alongside the creations of Eugene Atget, the renowned photographer. On the other hand ‘Energy and Process’ showcases the ‘Arte Povera’ movement exhibiting exponents like Jannis Kounellis, Alighiero Boetti, Kasimir Malevich, Mario Merz, Jenny Holzer and Ana Mendieta.
Temporary exhibitions are another key attraction at Tate Modern. The immense five storey Turbine Hall which formerly contained the power station’s electricity generators boasts no less than 3,400 sq m of floor area; it is used principally to exhibit large scale displays of specially commissioned artworks by contemporary period artists. These exhibitions are usually held between the months of October through March. At other times the area is used to hold ancillary exhibitions and events.
An additional feature of the gallery is the major extensive temporary exhibitions which require payment for admission. These displays typically last three to four months.
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