What’s on the Tate?
Walking across the Millennium Bridge in this Tate Modern painting, the people are wrapped in coats and scarves. It’s a cold, grey, March day and the sun has just appeared to cast shadows, before it disappears behind the clouds again. We’re all walking towards the Tate Modern. a power station converted into an art gallery which hosts a variety of exhibitions and performance events. The power station aesthetic has been retained and modernised. Its grand Turbine Hall, the host of large impressive installations. These public events sometimes take over the Southbank, as well as the gallery itself.
The Millennium Bridge that we’re crossing is one of my favourite London bridges. I love the historical ones, but this is 20th/21st century design. Historical architecture is fascinating, but we shouldn’t be afraid of the New. A city cannot afford to be stuck in its past. The bridge and the former power station are iconic examples of their time periods. Future generations will look at them with the same fondness that current generations look at Tower Bridge or London Bridge. They are a mark of our current identity.
I’ve walked this route, many times, and always, at my first glimpse of the Tate Modern, I wonder what’s on there this day or week. I imagine I’m not the only one. It’s natural to be curious, the programme changes. Each trip to London curiosity re-emerges as I cross the river at this point.
Look at the Tate Modern painting closely.
You see the textures, all created by various painting processes: Clingfilm is used to create the ripples in the sky. Salt draws colours from dark magenta, converting it to light pink on the jumper of the closest figure. Wild erratic scribbles of ink on the left and blown ink tendrils rising from the Tate Modern itself. Deep dark colours merge into the waters of the Thames, brown, deep green and prussian blue. Blooms on the chimney stack at the centre of the Tate Modern itself.
The colours are subtle, understated yet focus on one area and they suddenly seem brilliant and bright. Like when the sun suddenly emerges on a great day and creates a small but brilliant patch of sunlight. That much more evident in contrast to the surrounding greyness.
And now you’ve looked closely, maybe you’re also thinking What’s on at the Tate?
Tate Modern Painting of people walking accross the Millenium Bridge towards the Tate Modern
This painting is currently available and could be yours. Use the link below if you’d like to find out how.
A crowd crossing the Millennium Bridge to get to the Tate Modern. I always wonder what exhibits they will have. The main features are always well advertised but there's usually something unexpected.
The picture is painted on Langton watercolour paper. I create a pencil image and then go over all the lines with masking fluid before painting it with watercolour wash covered with clingfilm. Once this is removed the picture is further developed using acrylic inks which are left to dry before the masking is removed to reveal the final picture.
