All that glistens isn't gold.

[rhythmaning]

I went from the Gagosian to the British Museum. Mostly to look for presents in the shop, but I had a look around, of course. Prompted by delilly I wanted to see the Rosetta stone, which I must have seen many times before.

I also looked at a dispersed exhibition called Statuephilia, featuring works by Antony Gormley, Marc Quinn, Damien Hirst, Ron Muerk and Tim Noble and Sue Webster.

The work by Quinn is a gold sculpture of Kate Moss, called Siren. I like some of Quinn’s work – I loved his statue of Alison Lipper which stood on the empty plinth in Trafalgar Square - but I didn’t like this piece at all. Why Moss? Because she was famous? Why gold? Did it matter? To me, no – but it was the only statue in a room of priceless Greek statues that was sealed away, presumably at the request of the museum’s insurers.

Frankly, it seemed a bit tacky to me: like showing off in gold.

The Damien Hirst consisted of painted skulls. I have no idea if the skulls were reall or not. It didn’t grab me at all – like much of Hirst’s work, I was left thinking “so what?”

It won’t surprise you at all that I loved the Gormley – a maquette of the Angel of the North called “Case for an Angel I”. This angel seemed to be female – I thought I saw a hint of breasts (I could be wrong – I thought Gormley based most of his work on his own body). The angel stands on a plinth in the main entrance, stretched out across the atrium. Wonderful. Really wonderful.

Comments

[nicnac.livejournal.com]

I wasn't keen on the Moss sculpture either. I think it's the pose as much as anything - it's not like she is known for being a contortionist!

[rhythmaning.livejournal.com]

I liked her face; but the rest of the body seemed to have a rough texture.

I think she does a lot of yoga, but the pose did seem to me to be unnecessarily sexual (and someone has left a comment on flickr saying as much!).

I think it is probably meant to be a comment on celebrity - supermodel, worth her weight in gold - but I think a sculpture of someone else would actually have been more interesting!

[nicnac.livejournal.com]

I dunno.. I don't see the pose as being sexual, despite the 'access all areas' position. I think that's because, although it's an idealized kama sutra position, I don't know anyone who could achieve it IRL and therefore it doesn't have that necessary reality.

[rhythmaning.livejournal.com]

I might be wrong, but I am pretty certain it was modelled from life - I think Moss actually took up this position. No idea how long she could hold it, though!

[abrinsky.livejournal.com]

Rather bigger than the maquette of the Iron:Man



But agree that the one of the Angel is wonderful.

[frumiousb.livejournal.com]

The Moss thing just seems cynical to me, otherwise pointless.

[rhythmaning.livejournal.com]

Possibly; but I like other work by Quinn, which didn't seem cynical.

Also, the sculpture was shown by permission of the sculptor - it is still in his collection.

But - well, I don't get it, either!