Exhibition Review - contextual Studies Part 1: Tate Modern Report

Tate Modern-

Energy and process- Level 4 -Room 3 - Arte Povera and Anti-form

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Fig. 1 Lynda Benglis’ Quartered Meteor

The exhibition within the title Energy and Process consists of several Italian and American artists who worked and produced their artworks during the late 1960's. They have chosen to use materials and forms derived from nature such as wood, felt and stone; the artists concentrated on the sense of movement from organic processes such as gravity, electricity and magnetism. These experiments combining nature and fine art lead them to create a range of three dimensional outcomes differing from the traditional art of the 60’s. (Tate Modern, 2013
http://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks?ap=1&wp=1&wv=grid&sid=2338 )

Each artwork is remade for each exhibition it is moved to; therefore each piece slightly changes as it is moved to different locations. This was to create an affect where the artwork itself is reacting to the location and gallery room it is placed in. A strong example of this would be Lynda Benglis’ Quartered Meteor Fig.1 (1969, cast 1975.) "The work was originally made by pouring polyurethane foam into the corner of a gallery", (Tate Modern, plaque on wall 2013) allowing the structure to form in its own way. The waves of the slowly hardening foam creates a texture that is unpredictable in its presence however it was cast in lead in 1975 giving it a sense of weight and existence in the room. 

Fig. 2 Giuseppe Penone's 12 metre tall trees

Upon observing Giuseppe Penone's 12 metre tall trees carved out of planks of wood Fig.2 for the first time, I was tangled in thought into why he had produced the piece; however my reaction and opinion changed whilst exploring the textures and meaning behind it. His work dates from the late 1980's although his trees were made in 1969. Penone looks at the relationship between industry and nature, suggesting that a soft approach is still possible in an industrial world. This is something that interests me as it is very controversial and enlightens many on the surroundings we live in. I feel that the tree is something we try to save; although this wasn't as strong in the case of 1969 when it was created therefore it has different meanings to me than what it did at the time.

Bibliography: 

Museum - Tate modern, Energy and Process Level 4, 30/09/13

Website - http://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks?ap=1&wp=1&wv=grid&sid=2338 information viewed on 30/09/13

Museum Plaque/ Book - Tate Modern, Energy and Process Level 4, 2013