Spectacular views from the Tate Modern extension

There’s more than art at the new Tate Modern extension.

Go up to the 10^th floor of Switch House - named after the former electrical substation that still occupies part of the site – and you’ll find stunning (and free) views across London. The viewing gallery goes right round the building, so as well as looking north and east across the Thames to the city, you can see south and west London – and peer down at the show rooms of the neighbouring apartment blocks that are springing up around the regenerated area.

The brick extension is by Herzog + de Meuron, the architects who created Tate Modern out of the shell of the disused Bankside power station back in 2000. The extra space has allowed the reorganisation of the permanent collection, and seventy-five per cent of the works on display in the new galleries have been acquired since the opening of the first building, now known as the Boiler House.

Critics have described Switch House as ‘dazzling’, ‘adventurous’ and ‘one of the most spectacular buildings London has seen in decades’. The architects say the building’s twisted shape grew out of the former oil storage tanks that lie beneath it .There are few barriers around the art works, and the floors are linked by a sweeping staircase..

Fittingly, where a bridge links the two buildings, there’s a new Tate acquisition, ‘Tree’ by Ai Weiwei. The way the Chinese artist has transformed pieces of old wood into an artwork echoes the way the former power station site has been given a new life.

 

http://www.tate.org.uk/visit/tate-modern

Ai Weiwei's Tree installation at the Royal Academy

As part of a major exhibition at the Royal Academy by the Chinese artist Ai Weiwei, the front courtyard has been transformed into a grove of trees. The overall effect is stunning, and hugely popular with passers-by as well gallery visitors. The structures are made from sections of dead trees collected on the mountains of southern China. These were pieced together at Ai’s studio in Beijing to create the eight ‘complete’ trees on show. They’ve been interpreted as a commentary on the way diverse people have been brought together to form ‘One China’.

This marble couch in the grove is a reference to the Ming dynasty vogue for creating everyday objects from luxurious materials. While these served no practical purpose, they emphasised the wealth of the rulers of Imperial China. Some visitors were trying it out, but didn't stay there for very long - not the most comfortable seat around!

A picture of Ai Weiwei looks down on the statue of Academy's founder, Sir Joshua Reynolds, that usually dominates the courtyard. I couldn't help wondering what he would have made of it all.

Viewing the trees is free, but there is a charge for the rest of the exhibition, which is continues until December 3, 2015.

https://www.royalacademy.org.uk/