🎡London Museums Unit 9 – Tate Modern: Origins and Modern Collections

Tate Modern's Backstory

• Tate Modern is a modern and contemporary art museum located in London, England
• The museum is housed in the former Bankside Power Station, which was originally designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott and built between 1947 and 1963
• The power station was decommissioned in 1981 and remained unused for several years
• In the early 1990s, the Tate Gallery (now Tate Britain) was seeking a new space to display its growing collection of modern and contemporary art
• The idea to convert the Bankside Power Station into an art museum was proposed by the Tate's then-director, Nicholas Serota
• The conversion project was funded by a combination of private and public sources, including a significant donation from the English philanthropist Sir John Studzinski

From Power Station to Art Gallery

• The transformation of the Bankside Power Station into Tate Modern was a massive undertaking that took several years to complete
• The Swiss architectural firm Herzog & de Meuron was selected to design the museum's new interior spaces
• The architects retained much of the power station's original industrial character, including its brick facade, steel girders, and concrete floors
• The turbine hall, which once housed the power station's electricity generators, was transformed into a vast exhibition space measuring 500 feet long and 115 feet high
• The boiler house, which contained the power station's coal-fired boilers, was converted into galleries for the museum's permanent collection
• The switch house, a newer addition to the power station built in the 1960s, was also converted into gallery spaces
• The museum's renovation and conversion cost approximately £134 million and took four years to complete

Key Players in Tate Modern's Creation

• Nicholas Serota, the former director of the Tate, played a crucial role in the creation of Tate Modern
  • Serota had a vision for a new museum that would showcase the Tate's collection of modern and contemporary art in a unique and innovative setting
  • He was instrumental in securing funding for the project and overseeing its development
• Jacques Herzog and Pierre de Meuron, the founders of the Swiss architectural firm Herzog & de Meuron, were responsible for designing Tate Modern's interior spaces
  • The architects had previously worked on several high-profile museum projects, including the Goetz Collection in Munich and the Dominus Winery in California
  • Their design for Tate Modern emphasized the building's industrial heritage while creating functional and flexible spaces for displaying art
• Sir John Studzinski, an English philanthropist and investment banker, provided significant financial support for the creation of Tate Modern
  • Studzinski donated £5 million towards the museum's development, which helped to kickstart the fundraising campaign
• Chris Smith, the UK's then-Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, was a key supporter of the Tate Modern project
  • Smith helped to secure government funding for the museum's development and advocated for its importance to the UK's cultural landscape

Architectural Highlights

• The Turbine Hall is one of Tate Modern's most iconic architectural features
  • Measuring 500 feet long and 115 feet high, the Turbine Hall is a vast, open space that has hosted numerous large-scale installations and performances
  • The hall's industrial character, with its exposed steel girders and concrete floors, has been preserved and incorporated into the museum's design
• The Boiler House, which contains the museum's permanent collection galleries, is another significant architectural feature
  • The architects removed the boilers and other industrial equipment from the space, creating a series of interconnected galleries that flow seamlessly from one to another
  • The galleries are arranged around a central atrium, which allows natural light to filter into the space and creates a sense of openness and connectivity
• The Switch House, a newer addition to the museum that opened in 2016, is a striking example of contemporary architecture
  • Designed by Herzog & de Meuron, the Switch House features a distinctive, perforated brick facade that echoes the industrial character of the original power station
  • The building contains additional gallery spaces, as well as a restaurant, bar, and viewing terrace that offers panoramic views of London
• The museum's exterior landscaping, which includes a large public plaza and a pedestrian bridge across the Thames, is also a notable architectural feature
  • The plaza provides a gathering space for visitors and a venue for outdoor installations and performances
  • The pedestrian bridge, designed by Norman Foster, connects Tate Modern to St. Paul's Cathedral and provides a new route for pedestrians and cyclists

Collection Highlights and Themes

• Tate Modern's collection encompasses a wide range of modern and contemporary art from around the world
• The collection is organized thematically, rather than chronologically, which allows for unexpected connections and juxtapositions between works from different periods and styles
• One of the key themes in the collection is the relationship between art and society
  • Many of the works on display engage with social, political, and cultural issues, from the impact of industrialization to the struggles for civil rights and gender equality
• Another important theme is the role of experimentation and innovation in modern and contemporary art
  • The collection includes works that challenge traditional notions of what art can be, from abstract paintings to installations and performances
• The collection also explores the influence of non-Western art and culture on modern and contemporary art
  • Works by artists from Africa, Asia, and Latin America are prominently featured, highlighting the global nature of modern and contemporary art
• The museum's collection is constantly evolving, with new acquisitions and donations added regularly
  • Recent additions include works by artists such as Lubaina Himid, Kara Walker, and Olafur Eliasson

Iconic Artworks and Artists

• Tate Modern is home to numerous iconic works of modern and contemporary art
• One of the most famous works in the collection is "The Snail" by Henri Matisse
  • Created in 1953, "The Snail" is a large-scale collage made from colored paper cut-outs, which Matisse created during the last years of his life when he was confined to a wheelchair
• Another iconic work is "Marilyn Diptych" by Andy Warhol
  • Created in 1962, shortly after Marilyn Monroe's death, the work consists of a grid of 50 silkscreened portraits of the actress, which Warhol manipulated and colored in various ways
• The museum also has a significant collection of works by Pablo Picasso, including his 1932 painting "Girl Before a Mirror"
  • The painting is a portrait of Picasso's mistress, Marie-Thérèse Walter, and is notable for its use of bold, flat colors and distorted forms
• Other notable artists represented in the collection include Salvador Dalí, Jackson Pollock, Mark Rothko, and Diane Arbus
• The museum also has a strong collection of contemporary British art, with works by artists such as Tracey Emin, Damien Hirst, and Chris Ofili

Tate Modern's Impact on London's Art Scene

• Since its opening in 2000, Tate Modern has had a significant impact on London's art scene
• The museum has helped to raise the profile of modern and contemporary art in the UK, attracting millions of visitors each year
• Tate Modern has also played a key role in the regeneration of the Bankside area of London
  • The museum's presence has helped to transform the former industrial area into a thriving cultural district, with numerous galleries, restaurants, and shops
• The museum has also had a significant economic impact on the city
  • A 2017 study found that Tate Modern generates £100 million in economic benefits for London each year, supporting over 2,000 jobs
• Tate Modern has also helped to foster a new generation of British artists
  • The museum's commitment to showcasing emerging and underrepresented artists has helped to launch the careers of numerous British artists, including Steve McQueen, Rachel Whiteread, and Gillian Wearing
• The museum's success has also inspired other cultural institutions in London and beyond
  • The transformation of the Bankside Power Station into Tate Modern has become a model for adaptive reuse projects around the world, from the Guggenheim Bilbao to the Zeitz MOCAA in Cape Town

Visitor Experience and Practical Info

• Tate Modern is one of the most visited museums in the world, attracting over 6 million visitors each year
• The museum is open daily from 10am to 6pm, with extended hours on Fridays and Saturdays until 10pm
• Admission to the museum's permanent collection is free, although there is a charge for some special exhibitions
• Visitors can explore the museum's collection through a variety of guided tours and audio guides
  • The museum offers daily guided tours, as well as tours focused on specific themes or artists
  • Audio guides are available in several languages, including English, French, German, Italian, and Spanish
• The museum also offers a range of educational programs and resources for visitors of all ages
  • The Tate website includes a wealth of information about the museum's collection and exhibitions, as well as online learning resources and virtual tours
  • The museum also offers workshops, talks, and other events for adults and families
• Visitors can take a break from exploring the galleries at one of the museum's several cafes and restaurants
  • The Tate Modern Restaurant, located on the 6th floor of the Boiler House, offers stunning views of the London skyline along with a seasonal menu of modern British cuisine
  • The Terrace Bar, located on the top floor of the Blavatnik Building, offers cocktails and light bites with panoramic views of the city
• The museum is fully accessible to visitors with disabilities
  • The museum has step-free access to all galleries and facilities, as well as wheelchair rentals and accessible restrooms
  • The museum also offers British Sign Language (BSL) interpreted tours and events, as well as audio-described tours for visitors who are blind or partially sighted.