Whitechapel Gallery – buzzing light bulbs and coffee

[editor]

I went along to the Whitechapel Gallery on Saturday and it was a rather pleasant experience. It's still a small gallery, even after its 2009 extension, but it's a good way to spend an hour or so - and the cafe is great too.

Anyone been recently?

http://www.urban75.org/blog/whitechapel-gallery-buzzing-light-bulbs-and-coffee/

 

[Ms Ordinary]

Not been recently, but if that's the Mona Hatoum installation it looks like its worth a visit.

She did something once, with a small electric fire & a darkened room, that was the most unnerving experience I've ever had in a gallery.

 

[editor]

The lights go on and off and an almighty synchronised buzzing sound fills the room. It was like being at an industrial minimalist techno party.

 

[blossie33]

I love the Whitechapel Gallery and go quite often, not been to this new exhibition yet.

I joined last year - it's only £20 pa (half price) if you live in Tower Hamlets or Hackney boroughs (and maybe Newham?) and means you and a guest can go into the two paying exhibitions they have during the year for free which more than covers the cost.
Last year's Alice Neel exhibition was excellent.

 

[lang rabbie]

You should probably clarify that the "rather splendid cafe" is hidden away upstairs where is has been for the last twenty years since the previous gallery revamp designed by Alan Colquhoun and John Miller, and is not same as the posh new "dining room" opened in 2009 in the ground floor of the old library building, which was more than a tad pricier.

BTW - it appears that the previous catering contractors have handed back their concession, and new people (with Angela Hartnett as consultant chef!!!) have taken over from New Year . Hopefully, as well as cheaper lunches in the dining room, this will mean a better selection of cakes in the cafe than was on show on my last visit.

 

[FridgeMagnet]

That looks interesting, I'll put that one on the list.

 

[editor]

The Dining Room was closed when we visited. I would have preferred the cafe anyway.

 

[lang rabbie]

Just what is it that makes today's homes so different, so appealing?

On a more serious note - what can be more serious than a good cake selection in the gallery cafe!

... as well as the Mona Hatoum electric bulb thing, which like all her sculpture is certainly worth a look and a think, there is a little archive show "This is Tomorrow" running upstairs until 6 March to mark 50 years since the show which some say launched Pop Art in the UK.

On the other hand, I hated the big sculpture installation by Claire Barclay, "Shadow Spans", in the new downstairs gallery

 

[Paulie Tandoori]

it's a lovely place, i've just started working near it again after a couple of years elsewhere, i'm still making up my mind about the extension cos i really did like the original space but you've given me a nudge to get along now and see what's what. and i can vouch for the grub as well.

 

[editor]

On the other hand, I hated the big sculpture installation by Claire Barclay, "Shadow Spans", in the new downstairs gallery

Yeah, I thought it was a load of arty tosh, but - to be fair - I didn't spend too much time trying to make sense of it.

 

[FridgeMagnet]

Yeah, I thought it was a load of arty tosh, but - to be fair - I didn't spend too much time trying to make sense of it.

One thing I love about going to galleries as an adult is that you feel able to say "yeah whatever, this is rubbish, I'm not going to stand here trying to work you out, show me something decent" rather than feeling that everything in a gallery must be some sort of work of genius and you're just too uncultured to appreciate it. I've heard several people say that that has been one of the benefits of "BritArt" - whatever your opinions, everyone felt entitled to have an opinion.

 

[Paulie Tandoori]

Even the plebs?!

 

[FridgeMagnet]

Even builders, and women!

 

[Paulie Tandoori]

Kids???

 

[FridgeMagnet]

Now let's not go mad here.