Home bright and early after a long flight and with time on our hands we wander off to see Anselm Kiefer at The White Cube, Bermondsey. https://whitecube.com/exhibitions/exhibition/anselm_kiefer_bermondsey_2019 This is just what I need after a long flight- to be inspired. The soaring canvas paintings and the vitrine lined walls are cathedral like in their scale, and the galleries are as hushed as a cathedral. This is not normal on a wet Sunday in white Cube, and I can only think that everyone is in awe. I realise as I look at the new works that there is a similarity to others I have seen before. I realise that Kiefer reworks his images to create new works. This is not unusual for artists, but I feel confident that because I recently saw his work in Guggenheim, Bilbao, that I have a better understanding of this now. The Gordian Knot work in the vitrines is new to me. I have respect for the beautiful glass cases, and the knotted and tangled wires and steel within. I always admire the process as well as the message.
Then we cross the road to visit the Fashion and Textile Museum, where they have a wonderful exhibition on Zandra Rhodes https://www.ftmlondon.org/ftm-exhibitions/zandra-rhodes-fifty-years-of-fabulous/ . I am aware of her love of colour and her fashion forward designs, but I was unaware of her passion for print and pattern. The exhibition is well laid out, and after a walk-through of some of her most famous designs, we are in a gallery of beautiful, floaty fabrics. The exhibition also explains how the fabrics were thriftily made to create one dress from the fabric, with the designs laid out ready to cut. There then followed a short film and lots of sketch books of designs and inspirations.
As a counterpoint to the minimal palette of Kiefer, this could not be more timely. I am really glad we made time to see this exhibition.
