Abstract Expressionism, Royal Academy, 11 November 2016

Abstract Expressionist Gromit
Abstract Expressionist Gromit

We’d both been really looking forward to seeing this exhibition, without quite getting around to seeing it; prioritising other “more urgent” things, as th Abstract Expressionism is running until January and as a member Janie can get us in any time.

We had booked out the time to see the exhibition on this day and were quite determined to see it, although with Janie feeling poorly the day before, I was half expecting us to defer the visit yet again.

But Janie woke up on this Friday feeling better and was keen to go ahead with the visit after getting some other bits and pieces out of the way.

Naturally, it was quite late by the time we set off for the Royal Academy, which actually worked out well with the late night opening. No congestion charge, no parking charges and a reasonably clear run around Mayfair/Piccadilly.

The Royal Academy has a good resource on this show with some very good examples – click here.

We both really liked the show, without necessarily liking all the work. Barnett Newman has always left me cold and I was not so impressed by the David Smith sculptures. This is big, “wall space” art in truth.

Reviews are a little mixed:

We thought the show worked very well as a whole. Very colourful. Also very interesting, as we were familiar with some of the works and artists but not really on the Abstract Expressionists as a school. We suspect that many non-expert visitors shared our sense of enjoyment along with the sense that we learnt something too.

Janie was convinced that Cy Twombly should have been in there, even asking one of the shop attendants to look Cy up for her and then explain why Cy was absent. It transpires that Twombly’s work is later, modern romantic symbolism, not abstract expressionism. Bad call, Janie.

Romantic Symbolist Madonna and Child
Romantic Symbolist Madonna and Child

Jackson Pollock, Tate Gallery, 13 May 1999

As part of a “week off” that Janie and I took in London to see exhibitions and shows, the centrepiece of our Thursday was a trip to the Tate to see the Jackson Pollock exhibition.

The exhibition had been much hyped in the media, with previews and reviews.

Here’s a smattering from the papers.

Bel Littlejohn in The Guardian with tongue firmly in cheek, I shouldn’t wonder:

Pollock Littlejohn GuardianPollock Littlejohn Guardian 19 Mar 1999, Fri The Guardian (London, Greater London, England) Newspapers.com

Laura Cumming in the Observer seemed more genuinely bowled over by the exhibition:

Pollock Cumming ObserverPollock Cumming Observer 14 Mar 1999, Sun The Observer (London, Greater London, England) Newspapers.com

The Weasel in the Indy used a strange mixture of reverence and irreverence to review this exhibition:

Pollock The Weasel IndyPollock The Weasel Indy 13 Mar 1999, Sat The Independent (London, Greater London, England) Newspapers.com

Brian Sewell gave it the usual “Sewage treatment” in the Standard, over two pages:

Pollock Sewell StandardPollock Sewell Standard 11 Mar 1999, Thu Evening Standard (London, Greater London, England) Newspapers.com Pollock Sewell Standard 2 of 2Pollock Sewell Standard 2 of 2 11 Mar 1999, Thu Evening Standard (London, Greater London, England) Newspapers.com

I gave it a one word review in my log:

Bollocks.

Janie remembers the exhibition more fondly than that and I have become reconciled with Pollock since, especially in the context of shirts and ties.