Youngest editor at Young Londonist HQ joins his mate for a toddle at the Tate
I woke up at the Tate. After a morning spent running around the Creche I was exhausted and must have dozed off as mum pushed the pram along and here I was finding myself in front of a candy coloured baby pink twisted form – an aluminium sculpture created by Franz West outside what my mum later explained was the Tate Modern’s Switch House.
My mum was enjoying a coffee in the outside area and she had to gulp this down in one when I pointed to the sculptures and asked to be let out of the pram. Oh the joy to roam free amidst works of art on a sunny afternoon in London. What liberation to be alive and run around and point at the various pieces – some which looked like twirled bubblegum, others like stacked candy floss but all very delightfully colourful and pleasing to touch, hide behind and run around.
The Franz West sculptures are very impressive as they sit on large concrete blocks with gravel on the top (which I delighted in climbing and running around – until of course mummy came to explain that I wasn’t allowed to climb or touch – that was pretty disappointing!)
We entered the TATE Modern via the gift shop and this too excited me. They had books about London, books about animals and books about art (all great interests of mine!). We didn’t spend too long in the here as we were soon joined by our friends (art is best enjoyed with mates) and we headed upstairs via the lift. (both our mums had brought the prams – otherwise I would have insisted they take the stairs)
So here we were on the fourth floor at the Franz West exhibition inside the Tate Modern. First up we saw West’s Passstücke (which means fitting piece – I asked my aunt in Germany) now these reminded me of the horses on sticks that I sometimes run around the house pretending I am a jockey or a polo player. Only these are made of plaster and they have metal rods instead of sticks. The video installation encourages people to play with them but after I gave it a go and they all toppled on the floor mum said it was best not to. So instead my friend and I watched on a screen as West and his friends cavorted and danced with the originals (the ones in expo are reconstructions, probably because the originals are too delicate to be wielded by the likes of me).
I also thoroughly enjoyed pulling the curtain open and then closing it again. Onto more sculptures and we toddled and ran around and I pointed at the shapes and tried to give them names and meanings. I thoroughly enjoyed the one that looked like a pink sun and was suspended from the ceiling – imagine a pink sun made of candy, yum.
There was also a twisted sculpture (created in the noughties by West and painted a hue of baby blue) that we could sit and climb on and we really enjoyed doing this – repeatedly for approximately half an hour. In fact the best part of the exhibition was that we were able to touch and experience modern art. I am currently loving anything I can explore through touch and play (maybe even the occasional cheeky lick when mum is not looking) so of all the modern art we saw this was probably my favourite.
At the end of the exposition there are three pink doughnut sculptures which we enjoyed drumming on. My impression of the exposition? A humorous adventure suitable for all. I would return for another toddle, if my mummy would comply.
Franz West exhibition is on at TATE Modern until 2 June for more info & tickets visit their site here.