Tate Times

 

The Tate Modern Gallery is one of the most famous galleries in London. It has lots of inspirational, modern and contemporary art there. Since it opened in May 2000, more than 40 million people have visited Tate Modern. It is one of the UK’s top three tourist attractions.

The site was built in a former power station on the London south bank. It was designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott. It consisted of a stunning turbine hall, 35 meters high and 152 meters long, with the boiler house alongside it and a single central chimney. However, apart from a remaining operational London Electricity sub-station the site had been redundant since 1981.

I came to the Tate to see a great exhibition called Soul of a Nation. The exhibition is to celebrate the work of black artists working in America in the two decades after 1963. It shows lot of pictures and sculptures designed by black artists at the time that the Civil Rights Movement was at its height.

When walking around the Tate I could see the beautiful architecture in the new extension. The area has been regenerated.

The site is really impressive. The building is really grand and iconic.  This area is really nice for long walks by the River Thames, and of course to visit the gallery and numerous sites that surround it.

Here you can see one of the towers of when the building was a power station.

Inside the gallery you can see beautiful architecture.

In these pictures you can see the newest part of the gallery in the basement area called The Tanks.  It has lots of temporary art exhibitions and also its permanent collection which is amazing, if you like art.

I was not allowed to take pictures inside the exhibition. Here are some pictures of the book that were being sold, and a picture of the poster showing all the amazing artists.

On the way to the Gallery from the train station called London Blackfriars, I had a beautiful view of the South Bank. You can see in the distance, on the other side of the river, St. Paul’s Cathedral.

You can also see the Millennium Bridge that leads to the cathedral .

At the very top of the Gallery, on the 10th floor, there is a viewing platform. Here you have amazing panoramic views of London. The views are stunning from up there. I was lucky to have such beautiful weather, not the usual rainy London days.

Walking down the river passing the Tate Gallery toward the Borough Market I saw lots of interesting buildings alongside the river.

 

If you ever have the opportunity to visit London, you must visit the Tate Modern. Have a good long walk by the South Bank and enjoy the nice views. You can walk all the way from famous Big Ben to the iconic Tower Bridge – that would be a good day out in London.