The National Gallery

1. I think this logo is mainly just a typeface, and could definitely be adjusted more to represent the collection of the museum.  I enjoy the plain, simple font and coloration- but I feel this artistic simplicity could be more representative of the works inside.  The vast collection held in this prestigious museum has quite a range, though it contains a lot of classical works.  This could be represented in some sort of variation in the logo- whether it is shown with a change in font, color, boldness, etc., it could really begin to portray the vast collection one might find in the museum.

2. I've never much understood evaluations of artwork- mainly, I think, because I lack any form of creativity.  Van Gogh, however, has always stood out to me as an artist because of how I feel when viewing his work.  I absolutely love his color palettes- for example, the happy, yellow color he uses for Sunflowers contrasted with the more relaxed pastel green and purple colors used in the Water Lily Pond and Japanese Bridge piece.  The colors, brushstrokes, and subject matter of both pieces fit together like the pieces of a puzzle when viewed and gives an overwhelming sense of the emotion Van Gogh is trying to portray. 

3. It might seem a little cliche- but I would absolutely love to have a work of Van Gogh's in my future London home. :) I think a piece such as Long Grass with Butterflies from 1890 would be absolutely perfect overlooking a peaceful London park.  The colors are soft and serene, they would look perfect placed on a light green or light purple wall. 

 

4. I prefer the brighter wall colorings in this particular museum.  I feel the type of art work displayed here is more enhanced by the coloration rather than the color being a distraction.  The color palette of the walls should be in direct relation to the type of artwork displayed- the Tate Modern houses more modern art which seems to require more of a blank surrounding in order to be able to have full appreciation for the art.  However, with the classical art, you can get more of a home-y feel and admiration for the work.

5. I don't think the use of objects from the collection necessarily diminishes the work of art.  I think, in some ways, it does make the work of art seem more common and less original, but at the same time by making some pieces so ubiquitous it actually enhances the effect of viewing the original work of art.  I do think some forms of merchandise- such as postcards and posters- are more acceptable than a piece of artwort thrown onto a t-shirt, mainly because in that sense they are still viewed as the art work and not just a pattern on a random object. 

6. I really enjoyed viewing all of Michelangelo's works, mainly because he is so famous and I've learned so much about him not only in art classes but in history classes.  A piece such as The Entombment from 1500-1501 is definitely something to appreciate.  I would also really like a chance to view Michelangelo's work on the Sistine Chapel in Italy while I am in Europe because I know seeing photos of it doesn't begin to do it justice.  I would love to return to The Entombment to view it again because the emotions of the people within the portrait are so overwhelming. This, in combination with the colors, (which seems to be a theme throughout this musem) really portrays the feelings of the painting as well as an important historical scene.

Tate Modern

TATE MODERN

1. I really like the logo of the Tate Modern in the sense that there is more than one version of it.  I think the versions are similar enough that people are able to understand they represent the same thing- one idea, one unity.  The variation leaves room for interpretation.  Does the variation from the Tate Britain show that this museum has a slightly more variable, more modern appeal?  That is up to each museum-goer to decide.  I think it's a nice twist on an otherwise somewhat boring logo.  As I stated last week, however, I enjoy the continuity the "Tate" museum logos have- it makes it feel like they are all one large museum.

2. The expensive admission cost to museums in the United States certainly does stop people from attending them.  The high prices are disappointing, especially after being in London and being able to experience all the museums for free.  Having free admissions to British museums definitely adds some beauty and appreciation to the culture.  It is shown all around Britain- in modern day architecture, color, and design- that all these different museums have a large impact on everyday life.  I enjoy seeing the groups of school children at the museums because they are learning to appreciate such a beautiful aspect of life at such a young age.

3. The Unilever Series is definitely a deep, unique piece of art.  It is hard to understand the relevance at first glance, but when first approaching the exhibits there is definitely an overwhelming feel.  To be an individual in a sea of so many faces is, just that- overwhelming.  To believe in something enough to want to change it is, however, accomplishable.  It may be more difficult than any one person could imagine, but one step at a time can begin to overcome any challenge.  The work may not even be finished in your lifetime- but standing for what you believe in is not something to be underestimated.  Seeing those collections of porcelein objects was suggesting strength in numbers, yet each small piece was unique and beautiful.

4. The white coloring between exhibits is definitely an enhancement of the images.  Modern art is the only kind of art I can see this working for, because in order to truly appreciate some of the paintings you must be able to captivate each piece by itself.  Any other sort of color, bordering, or design would interrupt with the ability to truly understand the work of art. 

5. The interior of the building was definitely impressive.  There are some large modern works of art on display, and there was definitely enough space to not feel chlostrophobic.  The inside was all very modern looking, beginning with the staircase that could be seen when you first walked in to the building.  There were a lot of glass windows that let in sunlight to really accentuate the pieces.  The outside I wasn't quite as fond of.  It seemed a little dreary, though the location is absolutely awesome.  I also really enjoyed traveling the Millennium Bridge before the entrance- I'm not sure if the placement of this bridge by the Tate Modern was on purpose or not- but it really enhanced the "modern" feel to the museum. 

6. I really enjoyed the upper-level cafe/restaurant at the Tate Modern.  The view of the historic city of London as well as the River Thames was really impressive.  It was a really nice, relaxed atmosphere and an impressive food/beverage selection.  There were a lot of seating options, and, needless to say, an outstanding view from any of the seats.  Hanging out in the seventh floor cafe after viewing some awesome museum exhibits was a really good time, and something I would look into doing again.

Tate- Britain Museum

1. I feel the logo of the Tate Britain is somewhat unimpressive.  The "Tate" is consistent with the other Tate museum logos, which is necessary but this font and cartoon-like fading edges does not resemble any piece of the architecture (or collection).  With such an interesting background and collection, I feel a lot more could be incorporated into the logo.  A new color palate could really help, also, as this black and white doesn't relate to any of the colorful matter inside the museum.  Furthermore, the museum has a large collection of modern artwork that I feel could be easily incorporated into the logo. 

 

2. I didn't take the class on theatre- but based on what I saw at the play, the Ophelia painting is popular not only because it is very well-known, but because of the emotion behind the character depicted in the painting.  Ophelia goes mad because of the death of her father by her lover, Hamlet, and is last seen "singing in her madness as she drowns."  She seems almost too serene and peaceful in her final moments, considering what has just happened. 

3. The more modern art had simple, if any, display techniques.   They were spread out to enhance the focal points of the pieces, and also to more adequately display the uniqueness of each piece.  If they did contain frames, they were simple wood or iron frames that blended in with certain colors of the art.  The large, intricute gold frames used for the Pre-Raphaelites were used as another layer in addition to the already present layers of the works.  We learned that, when these paintings were hung in the homes of their original owners, there were layers behind them as well such as paints, wallpapers, furniture, etc.  Also, the larger the frame on a piece of artwork, the more expensive it looks, which could have been appealing to the wealthier families when these types of paintings began to appear.

4.  I was thorougly confused by "The Coral Reef".  Once I entered the exhibit, I thought I was merely passing through some storage and back rooms of the museum, until I realized I was actually in the middle of the piece.  It contained dingy lighting, odd furnishings, and creaky doors.  I had to go back outside to re-read the descripition of the exhibit before I could try and understand how it related to art.  In my opinion, I don't think this is art.  There are certain artistic elements to the overall exhibit, but it's more an interior design reference than an artistic piece.  Though it was confusing and, albeit, a little strange, there was still something intreguing about the Coral Reef exhibit; even if I can't decide what it is!

5.  Though I enjoyed both museums, I think I enjoyed the Victoria and Albert Museum a bit more than the Tate Britain.  The Victoria and Albert museum had some really impressive architecture, easy navigation, and some really awesome historical pieces.  The Tate was interesting because it contained more modern art pieces- and some really remarkable architecture as well- but I feel that while in London, I'd prefer to see more historical European sculptures and artwork. 

 

6.  I really enjoyed the exhibit on the Romantic art. Romantic art originated in second half of the 18th century in Europe, and many paintings from this movement were present in the Tate Britain.  Many of the works were part of the J.M.W.  Turner. When you first enter the exhibit, there is a large painting on the wall, describing Romantics, which contains the quote "I must create a system or be enslaved by another man's."  This was integrated into the art of the time period in many different ways- there was more imagination and creativity in the paintings.  The artists were using different line strokes and colors to convey more of their feelings into the paintings.  I would love to return and have a chance to appreciate more of the paintings present in this collection.