On Monday 13th October, Lower 6 photographers and artists enjoyed a visit to various London art galleries
The only unlucky aspect of the day was the rain that gradually became more absolute as the day progressed. Nonetheless, the students’ high spirits shone through as they crossed London travelling from one gallery to the next. The group split as the photographers made their way to Oxford Street to visit The Photographers’ Gallery, whilst the artists headed to the National Gallery. The two groups congregated outside the Royal Academy just before 2.00pm. We entered the Academy to start unpicking some of the complex themes and meanings behind Anselm Kiefer’s retrospective'(this exhibition promises to be the show of the year at the Academy, if not in London). Kiefer is a German artist who was born two months before the end of the Second World War. Throughout his childhood he experienced a culture of denial as Germany came to terms with its Nazi past. Kiefer’s artwork is often about confronting the past head on and making sense of what human nature is capable of. The students studied the information provided in each room, which was an important part of understanding these particular works. On a practical level there was lots to learn from an artist who explores the boundaries between sculpture, painting, printmaking and installation. Some of Kiefer’s works were so vast that when you stood in front of them there was a feeling of literally being consumed by them. William Beament approached this idea from a different angle stating “Anselm Kiefer… an art thief’s worst nightmare.”
This trip was a huge success and one that the Art Department would thoroughly recommend – this powerful show will move you and the students have returned with sketchbooks full of thoughts and insights.