- Discuss the artwork that stands out most to you from the exhibition and why you like it/don't like it
- Try to find interviews to back up what you want to say about the artist
- Find out about the gallery at which the exhibition is being held as a lot of galleries only display certain types of work.
- what issue is the artist trying to portray in their work? what makes it uniique
- Make sure to write in 3rd person
- Opinions need to be backed up with evidence
- Magazine layout ? A title that engages reader ?
Tuesday, 30 April 2013
How to write an Exhibition Review
I have never written a exhibition review quite as long or as formal as this one before so decided to research some tips of how to write one. I have read other reviews such as the ones in source magazine and although they give you some idea I felt some more structure would be helpful.
Tuesday, 16 April 2013
Exhibition Review- Chuck Close: 'Process & Collaboration'
Chuck Close is an american painter who is most known for his photo-realist approach to his portraits of family and friends but in 1988 was paralyzed by a spinal artery collapse and is now in a wheelchair but amazingly that never stopped him from making work. His illness forced him to find a new way to work so had to move on from his detailed photo-like paintings so now works in a more abstract way.
This exhibition was held at The White Cube Bermondsey in London from the 6th of march until the 21st of April. This is a newer gallery as it only opened in October 2011 however it is the biggest of all of The White Cube galleries. It has 3 major exhibition spaces and also has a book shop which is rather handy as art book are not exactly the easiest to get hold on in a regular book shop. To go along side the exhibitions they also run lectures in their 60 seat auditorium so it is great for those in education. Although it is great because it displays work of very well known artists it is focused on making money rather than getting artists known in the world.
I have admired Chuck Close's work for a long time as although I'm studying photography I tend to find myself more inspired by artwork and I think his work shows a lot of skill. The piece that I've always loved is 'Emma' which he created in 2002 however what I did not realize was that he had a few different versions using oil paint, watercolors and woodblocks.His work is one of those must-see because its even more incredible in person especially as they are large scale pieces so they have a great impact in an exhibition than a book.
http://whitecube.com/
Book: Chuck Close (Exhibition),1998-1999 :Museum of Modern Art http://prism.talis.com/jersey/items/226834?query=chuck+close&resultsUri=items%3Fquery%3Dchuck%2Bclose
This exhibition was held at The White Cube Bermondsey in London from the 6th of march until the 21st of April. This is a newer gallery as it only opened in October 2011 however it is the biggest of all of The White Cube galleries. It has 3 major exhibition spaces and also has a book shop which is rather handy as art book are not exactly the easiest to get hold on in a regular book shop. To go along side the exhibitions they also run lectures in their 60 seat auditorium so it is great for those in education. Although it is great because it displays work of very well known artists it is focused on making money rather than getting artists known in the world.
I have admired Chuck Close's work for a long time as although I'm studying photography I tend to find myself more inspired by artwork and I think his work shows a lot of skill. The piece that I've always loved is 'Emma' which he created in 2002 however what I did not realize was that he had a few different versions using oil paint, watercolors and woodblocks.His work is one of those must-see because its even more incredible in person especially as they are large scale pieces so they have a great impact in an exhibition than a book.
Sources:
http://whitecube.com/
Book: Chuck Close (Exhibition),1998-1999 :Museum of Modern Art http://prism.talis.com/jersey/items/226834?query=chuck+close&resultsUri=items%3Fquery%3Dchuck%2Bclose
Exhibition Review- Ansel Adams: 'Photography from Mountains to the Sea'
Ansel Adams was an american photographer who worked on a large format camera and is best known for his black and white landscapes. This exhibition displayed a lot of his work considering the space maybe too much ranging from waterfalls and rivers to mountains and close-up shoots too.
This exhibition of Ansel Adams work was held at the national maritime museum in London from November 9th 2012 until 28th of April 2013 which is a long time for an exhibition to be held but for someone so famous and influential in photography it is a must see exhibition.
This exhibition of Ansel Adams work was held at the national maritime museum in London from November 9th 2012 until 28th of April 2013 which is a long time for an exhibition to be held but for someone so famous and influential in photography it is a must see exhibition.
The piece of work that stood out the most was his large triptych due to the scale of them and they were near enough in the center of the exhibition space however it could be questioned that they really work best as individual pieces as appose to a trip-tic. Triptych normally fit together much better then these did it was like Adams' just printed his all time favorite 3 photographs in large scale because he could. Having said that they way he made each image was quite outstanding especially for the 1950's. Adams' did this by hanging large sheets of unexposed paper on the wall and projected his image horizontally from the enlarger. These had to be printed in sections and joined on backing board.
Although this was the biggest piece in the exhibition is was no where near the most visually appealing one of the show. Several other prints such as his close up of a shipwreck titled, 'shipwreck series, lands end, San Francisco, 1931'. Adams uses the word extract instead of abstract as a photographer can only represent a moment in time however it can be selective. Well that's what drew me to this series how he had extracted something from such a big thing which really forces the viewer to focus on what happened giving very little sense of escape.
Walking into the exhibition and heading around the corner I noticed it was quite a large space but had lots of temporary walls put in which actually made it feel really small. The first thing I noticed was Ansel Adams quotes on the walls which I thought really added to the feel of the exhibition, it reminded me of an old Diner. The quote that stood out to me most was one Adams' wrote in a letter to his father in 1920,
Source:
http://www.rmg.co.uk/visit/events/ansel-adams
Although this was the biggest piece in the exhibition is was no where near the most visually appealing one of the show. Several other prints such as his close up of a shipwreck titled, 'shipwreck series, lands end, San Francisco, 1931'. Adams uses the word extract instead of abstract as a photographer can only represent a moment in time however it can be selective. Well that's what drew me to this series how he had extracted something from such a big thing which really forces the viewer to focus on what happened giving very little sense of escape.
"Wait and see what I can do with it- I may fall down completely:
Photography is limited, you know, but I am hoping for results."
He fills many people currently studying photography with inspiration in a way he that he says it wont be easy or a walk in the park but its possible so don't let anything get in the way. The exhibition felt quite mix and match but except for there being way too much in one room the different size photographs in all different frames ranging in thickness and colour, some black some white added character to the show. As well as the frames the wall colour were pastel colours and sepia tones which complemented the photographs. Most exhibitions you walk into have bright white walls that take the attention away from the artwork and identical frames which gives a more professional looking finish.
He fills many people currently studying photography with inspiration in a way he that he says it wont be easy or a walk in the park but its possible so don't let anything get in the way. The exhibition felt quite mix and match but except for there being way too much in one room the different size photographs in all different frames ranging in thickness and colour, some black some white added character to the show. As well as the frames the wall colour were pastel colours and sepia tones which complemented the photographs. Most exhibitions you walk into have bright white walls that take the attention away from the artwork and identical frames which gives a more professional looking finish.
Overall, except for them packing way too much work into one room which really put a downer on the experience of viewing Adams' work in person however saying that his work really does have a lot more impact in reality and books really do not show his work at there best so his work is really one of the few that going to an exhibition of is a must see.
Source:
http://www.rmg.co.uk/visit/events/ansel-adams
Morgan-Griffiths, Lauris, Ansel Adams: Landscapes of the American West, 2008
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