Tate Modern Switch House

The Tate Modern opened in 2000 and quickly became one of London's most important cultural attractions. This year in June we welcomed the opening of the much awaited new building The Switch House. The new extension has added an extra 60% of gallery space for visitors to explore. Designed by Herzog & de Meuron, the architects behind the original Tate building, the new structure is shaped like a pyramid twisting as it rises. The latticed clad brick work brings in natural light while helping the extension match the exterior of the original, seamlessly linking the two buildings.

View from the South

Images: Haye Davidson and Herzog & de Meuron

Beginning on Level 0, "The Tanks" is a space dedicated to film, installations and live interactive performance art. One used to store oil, these large circular concrete spaces are large in scale, raw and industrial. 

Pictured below is Seance de Shadow II (bleu) 1998 by Dominque Gonzalez-Foerster. The installation is activated when visitors engage with the space. 

The BMW Live: Active Sculpture gallery is pictured below. Here, all of the sculptures are activated by interaction. 

Pictured above; Robert Morris' Untitled 1965, reconstructed 1971.

"As the viewer walks around the four cubes, their mirrored surfaces produce complex and shifting interactions between gallery and spectator."

On Level 0, visitors are first confronted by the main staircase in all it's curved beauty. 

View down into the tanks

Seating areas around the concrete circulation spaces. 

The concrete curves continue through the levels and latticed brick exterior can we seen from the inside windows offering amazing shadows and bright, natural light. 

The new roof terrace offers stunning panoramic views of the city. 

Tate Modern

Bankside London SE1 9TG

Open from 10am

Entry is Free

An Afternoon with Yayoi Kusama

Yakoi Kusama is one of Japan's biggest artistic exports. Her work is surreal and deeply concerned with the ideas of infinity and repetition which help inform her signature style. Her current practice is currently being shown at the Victoria Miro Galleries across London. The Wickenden Hutley team went on excursion to the East London gallery to experience the famous mirrored infinity rooms, paintings, sculptures and installations. 

The hype surrounding Yayoi Kusama's work is very real, and so were the queues!

We waited outside for just over an hour. Once we reached the front we were ushered to the outdoor terrace to experience the "Narcissus Garden". 

873 stainless steel spheres measuring 30cm in diameter float in a pond as they reflect the surroundings and move with the wind creating interesting formations and sounds as they clash together.

Positioned alongside the Narcissus Garden is the first of the infinity rooms. 

"Where the Lights In My Heart Go". 

Once inside the 300cm x 300cm x 300cm box, we discover there are small holes which puncture the structure. The door closes behind us and these holes allow light into an otherwise dark and reflective room. The holes multiply and it feels like you're standing amongst infinite stars and we start to understand the excitement and awe that inevitably surrounds Kusama's work.

 We next head upstairs to see her Infinity Net paintings. 

The first glimpse we see of her love for pumpkins. The work is detailed and meticulous. 

In another gallery there is a hexagonal structure painted plain white from the outside. A sliding door reveals a single chandelier rotating and pulsating with light in the middle of a mirrored room. 

The Chandelier of Grief reproduces an infinity of amazing effects on reflective walls. 

The last of our visit to the Victoria Miro gallery was spent lining up for the most talked about room of them all. 

"All the Eternal Love I have For Pumpkins". 

The queue wraps around three mirror polished pumpkin sculptures which stand impressively outside the room.

 As we get closer we catch our first glimpses of the interior. 

Stepping inside "All the Eternal Love I have For Pumpkins" we are greeted with yellow and black spotted pumpkins lit from the inside like lanterns. The door closes and we are timed for 20 seconds. 

An infinity of these pumpkins is an incredible sight to see. 

Yayoi Kusuma: Sculptures, Paintings and Mirror Rooms is at Victoria Miro, 16 Wharf Road, London, N1 7W. My Eternal Soul Paintings is at Victoria Miro, 14 St George St London, W1S 1FE. Both showing until the 30th of July 2016

EASTER ENTERTAINING

Spring Is Here!

We have put together some inspirational table setting ideas just in time for Easter entertaining.  Natural floristry, antique silverware and light linen create an elegant and subtle atmosphere, like these inspiration images from Gwyneth Paltrow's collaboration with Remodelista.

More photos here 

More photos here 

GET THE LOOK

1) Summerill & Bishop Stainless Steel Cutlery Set - here

2) Linen Table Runner from Houseology - here 

3) Wick and Tallow Candle - here

4) Antique Silver Egg Cups can be found on ebay

5) Heals' Dinnerware - here

6) Linen Napkins from The Linen Works - here

7) Wine glasses from Selfridges - here

8) Anthropologie Dinnerware Set - here 

9) Houseology Glass Dome - here 

10) Flowers from Scarlet and Violet, Wild at Heart or Petalon 

11) Water glasses from The New Craftsman - here

12) Summerill & Bishop Bowl - here