British artscape visited

Katherine Rose, an art historian and director of Flow Education and Culture Consultants presented a talk on ‘Dimensions in British contemporary art 1990 to 2010’ at the British library in the city on Thursday.

The talk touched upon several seminal movements and works of art including the work of India-born British sculptor Anish Kapoor. “He makes unique sculptures that expand the boundaries of art. In terms of materials used, artists are bringing about a new language of art,” said Katherine.

Likewise, Cornelia Parker’s Cold Dark Matter: An Exploded View (1991) exemplifies different processes of making art. “Dark matter is the stuff in the universe that we do not understand.

The artist is trying to capture a moment and an explosion. It indicates her view of the Big Bang,” said Katherine.

The growth and criticism of conceptualism in the UK was discussed at length.

“In conceptualism, the idea is as important as material used in the artwork,” said Katherine displaying the works of Young British Artists (YBAs) and Damien Hirst’s The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living. “Artists used visual jokes like street art by Banksy. Tracy Emin became controversial with the tent designed by her with names of everyone she had ever slept with embroidered on it,” said Katherine adding that the Turner Prize is a major media event in the UK. Stuckism, founded in 1999, is one of the many major movements that influenced the art scene in Britain. “Stella Vine’s painting of Princess Diana was also controversial,” added Katherine.

The talk also touched upon the rise of the art market in Britain, interactive art work in new media, importance of art institutions and public funding. The photo-montage of Tony Blair by Kennard Phillipps’ and Michael Landy’s Breakdown stand for varied dimensions of art in Britain.

“Breakdown is a protest against art being commodified,” said Katherine.

The talk also included an interactive session with Chandana Khan, principal secretary to government of Andhra Pradesh and president, Hyderabad Arts Society. “We have to create a viewership to appreciate art in India. People have to be trained here. It is only then that artists will feel important and relevant in India,” said Khan.

“This morning, when I stopped at the traffic light, I felt it was an installation,” added Khan, as the audience burst into laughter.

 

Cloud Gate: Millennium Park (2004)

The renowned Indian-born artist Anish Kapoor is one of the highly acclaimed 20th century sculptors on the British art scene. The Cloud Gate is his first American site-specific sculpture.

The 110-tonne work of art at the Millennium Park was forged from a seamless series of highly polished stainless steel plates. It forms an elliptical arch which reflects Chicago’s skyline