This spring, Tate Britain unveils a refresh of the BP Walk through British Art, a chronological display of the national collection of British Art from the 1500s to the present day. Featuring Antony Gormley, David Hockney, Anish Kapoor and Jane and Louise Wilson, the new displays include recent acquisitions on show for the first time as part of the collection alongside some of Tate’s most loved works.
Highlights from the new displays include Antony Gormley’s celebrated early work Bed 1980-1 in which a double mattress made from slices of bread features two eaten away impressions of the artist’s body. This is shown alongside Anish Kapoor’s Adam 1988-9, a sandstone block with a carved out interior saturated with dark blue pigment. Other works from the collection on display include: Luke Fildes, The Doctor exhibited 1891; David Hockney, Tea Painting in an Illusionistic Style 1961; F.N. Souza, Crucifixion 1959; John Latham, Film Star 1960; Gilbert & George, England 1980; Prunella Clough, Wire and Demolition 1982; Paula Rego, Nanny, Small Bears and Bogeyman 1982 and Richard Long, Red Slate Circle 1988.
A wide range of recent acquisitions are on show for the first time at Tate Britain, demonstrating Tate’s commitment to enriching the collection with a regular review of the past as well as collecting the work of contemporary British artists. Highlights include Magda Cordell, No. 12 1960, Billy Apple, Relation of Aesthetic Choice to Life Activity (Function) of the Subject1961–2, Roy Ascott, Video-Roget 1962; Martine Franck, Princess Anne’s Wedding, Parliament Square1973; Stephen Willats, The Twin Towers1977; Alexis Hunter, Approach to Fear XIII: Pain - Destruction of Cause 1977; Rose Finn-Kelcey, The Magpie’s Box 1977 and Shelagh Cluett,Flux III1979.
Major acquisitions of works from the past decade are also presented for the first time at Tate Britain including Martin Boyce’s hanging mobile Suspended Fall 2005, Jane and Louise Wilson’s series of black and white photographs Blind Landings (H-bomb Test Site, Orford Ness) 2013 and Nicholas Pope’s installation of ceramic figures, Liar Liar 2008-9.
The BP Walk through British Art opened in May 2013 at Tate Britain. This display of the national collection of British art presents around 500 artworks over a newly configured sequence of over 20 galleries as a continuous chronological display – a walk through time from the 1500s to the present day.
For further press information please contact Kate Moores / Sara Chan, Tate Press Office on +44(0)20 7887 4906/8732 or email pressoffice@tate.org.uk
Notes to Editors
BP’s support for UK Arts & Culture
BP are a major supporter of UK arts with a programme that spans over 35 years, during which time millions of people have engaged with BP-sponsored activities. BP’s investment of almost £10 million in extending its long term partnerships with the British Museum, the National Portrait Gallery, the Royal Opera House and Tate Britain until 2017, represents one of the most significant long-term corporate investments in UK arts and culture. Due to this ongoing commitment of world class culture; BP is Tate’s longest standing sponsor, partnering together on a range of programmes since January 1990. This has allowed over 37 million people to experience the national collection of British art. BP’s sponsorship of the Tate Britain collection is the longest on-going sponsorship commitment to a permanent collection in the UK.