A day of Culture

A day of culture started with a visit to The Tate Modern and the Damien Hurst exhibition.

I had prebooked a ticket for 12am so had time for a coffee and a look around the public galleries before going into the exhibition. I started with the diamond encrusted skull "For the Love of God". It was displayed in a specially built room in the Turbine hall and as its not part of the main exhibition free to visit. It consists of a platinum cast of a human skull encrusted with 8,601 flawless diamonds, including a pear-shaped pink diamond located in the forehead. Costing a reported £14 million to produce. Access is limited to small groups and large bags cannot be taken in. It is viewed in a darkened room in a thick glass box with a security guard on hand. The main exhibition was busy but not too crowed to enjoy. I wanted to see how the shark was held in place and if you look carefully when you are there you can see the clear nylon fishing line holding it in position the the tank.FYI Perspex was used to hold the organs in place in "Mother and child divided".

The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living

The Anatomy of an Angel
The exhibition finishes with the "Usual Shop". The exhibition poster could be purchased for under a tenner but if you wanted a nice Spot Painting limited edition print to take away the price is £4225. Frame extra. I think I will do my own. Perhaps I will try squares.

It was then a pleasant 30 minute walk along the Thames to Tate Britain and the Picasso and Migrations Exhibitions.

I enjoyed all the exhibitions but would prefer to put a Picasso rather than a Hirst on my wall. If you are visiting the Tate Modern and like modern art the Yayoi Kusama expedition with her Infinity net paintings, spot rooms and infinitely mirrored space are well worth a visit.