Impressions of the Tate Tanks
It's been a major talking point in the art world for weeks, so I thought I'd check out the Tate's new space for myself.
And what a space it is, with its sloping floors, lack of windows and cavernous grey concrete. The Tanks are now the world's largest home for performance and installation art - genres which daunt even arty aficionados, with associations of obscurity and the extreme avant garde. Thankfully then, as you walk in you are greeted with a gigantic panel explaining everything from activist art, through to queer politics.
However the free permanent exhibition will most likely have you somewhat baffled once again. Sung Hwan Kim's commission piece is a dark room full of video and audio installations nestled in and around sculptures and objects. It is eery and atmospheric, but failed to rise any real emotional response in me, beyond "What exactly is going on here!?!" On the other hand, whilst your there, the Edvard Munch exhibition is overwhelmingly emotive; this angst ridden Norwegian artist has so much more to offer than 'The Scream'.
The Tanks is a big open space that needs filling. Whilst the premise is interesting, I think I would need to experience a live performance to really get any feel for the Tate's project. Lucky then that their 15 week Art in Action Festival offers just that, and lots of it.
Visited the Tanks? What were your thoughts?
