Tate Modern opens its Switch House building and renames the Turbine Hall-side the “Boiler House”, introducing Londoners to the New Tate Modern, housing modern and contemporary art from early 20th century to the present. Members got a sneak-peek on 14 June, and the new wing opens to the public from 17 June 2016.
I’ve seen the decor a hundred times, so right now, it’s all about the house
On a recent visit to the New Tate Modern during one of the Member’s preview events, I admit I wasn’t looking at the art; instead, I was there to see what 10 years of membership to one of the world’s premiere art institutions had supported.
Well, colour me impressed! Tate Modern has long been a favourite art gallery of mine, and now it’s my new favourite, for the same reasons as before: the luxury of natural light in almost all rooms; the feeling of space even with hundreds of other people there at the same time; the curation and installation of selected artworks on display always seems to fit the gallery it’s in; the sensitivity of the architecture and interior to the building’s original purpose (as a power station) is still evident and adds to the context but is never overwhelms the art. More than anything else, Tate’s attention to its most important stakeholder, the gallery visitor, always seems to top the list of priorities, from their top-notch education programmes and easily-navigable signage to the friendly and informed staff members.
The main thing that makes Tate 2.0 even more special is their new viewing gallery from the 10th level of the Switch House, giving Tate’s guests a place to catch some fresh air and a 360-degree view of the City of London, in case they didn’t find anything interesting to look at in the galleries.
One can go between the Boiler House and the Switch House via this open bridge beneath which is the Turbine Hall, I think, but it doesn’t look familiar anymore at this height.
Of course, an art gallery is not an art gallery without the art, but I’ll leave that to you to discover yourself on your next visit. Best of all, it’s still free! So what are you waiting for?
Read more about the New Tate Modern
- Visit Tate Modern online – how to get there, what’s on, history, pictures and more
- Donate to Tate and get this cool pin badge, designed by Peter Saville
- Reviews:
- “The Tate Modern building is great, but don’t assume the art inside is” by Christina Patterson for the Guardian – 16 June 2016
- “The new Tate Modern isn’t that modern” by Sebastian Anthony for Ars Technica UK – 17 June 2016 – “Should a museum of modern art embrace technology, or keep it at wary arm’s length?”
- “Tate Modern’s Switch House — ‘a genuinely civic space’” by Edwin Heathcote for Financial Times – 23 May 2016
- “The new Tate Modern is infuriating and exhilarating in equal measure” by Mark Hudson for the Telegraph – 14 June 2016 – 3/5 stars
Exhibition details: Tate Modern is located Bankside, London, SE1 9TG and is open 7 days a week. Free admission (with paid admission for special exhibitions); step-free access.
kelise soixante-douze 