![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
The Saatchi Gallery
Feb. 14th, 2010 07:08 pmLast weekend, I spent an hour or so at the new Saatchi Gallery in Chelsea. I say new Saatchi Gallery because the last time I went to the Saatchi Gallery it was a rather excellent space in Boundary Road, between Swiss Cottage and St John’s Wood. In the time since then – at least fifteen years – the gallery has moved twice, and grown greatly.
In the gallery in Boundary Road was one of my favourite artworks: a room full of oil. It smelled awful, but it looked beautiful: completely flat, black and incredibly reflective. You could walk out on a gantry over the oil, and down some steps into the oil – protected by steel walls, but below the surface. Walking into the reflection, the surface of the oil at eye level. It was a remarkable experience.
I was really, really pleased to find out the installation was in the new gallery, too – presumably it moved to County Hall and now into the new space. (I wonder if it is the same oil?) I also now know what it is called – 20:50 – by Richard Wilson.
The Saatchi Gallery is happy to have anyone take photographs of its artworks. So I did…
Of course, I looked at the other work in the gallery as well. There is a large display of art from India at them moment, most of which consists of paintings, and since photographs can’t add anything, I didn’t take any pictures; but I did like these two works by Subodh Gupta.
There were also some sculptures in glass from, I believe, a Mexican artist, Koehi Naura.
I didn’t write down who created this giant piece of sculpture, but I loved the vista through the door.
The Saatchi Gallery is a large space – and even filled with work that didn’t grab me, the space is wonderful. I can see myself going back frequently. If that is what advertising pays for, I think I rather approve.
In the gallery in Boundary Road was one of my favourite artworks: a room full of oil. It smelled awful, but it looked beautiful: completely flat, black and incredibly reflective. You could walk out on a gantry over the oil, and down some steps into the oil – protected by steel walls, but below the surface. Walking into the reflection, the surface of the oil at eye level. It was a remarkable experience.
I was really, really pleased to find out the installation was in the new gallery, too – presumably it moved to County Hall and now into the new space. (I wonder if it is the same oil?) I also now know what it is called – 20:50 – by Richard Wilson.
The Saatchi Gallery is happy to have anyone take photographs of its artworks. So I did…
Of course, I looked at the other work in the gallery as well. There is a large display of art from India at them moment, most of which consists of paintings, and since photographs can’t add anything, I didn’t take any pictures; but I did like these two works by Subodh Gupta.
There were also some sculptures in glass from, I believe, a Mexican artist, Koehi Naura.
I didn’t write down who created this giant piece of sculpture, but I loved the vista through the door.
The Saatchi Gallery is a large space – and even filled with work that didn’t grab me, the space is wonderful. I can see myself going back frequently. If that is what advertising pays for, I think I rather approve.
