Tate Liverpool
Opening Spring / Summer 2013
Sponsored by DLA Piper
Tate Liverpool is to unveil a major re-hang of its collection displays starting in May 2013, marking the gallery’s 25th anniversary. DLA Piper Series: Constellations explores the impact of major works from the Tate collection on art history by placing them at the heart of nine ‘constellations’ of artworks. Including over one-hundred works from the collection, many never seen before in Liverpool, the displays will reveal the many different narratives that link the artworks together.
The works selected to act as the originating ‘star’ of these constellations have been chosen because of their continuous revolutionary effect on modern and contemporary art. Each of these works will be displayed among a group of artworks that relate to them, and to each other, across time and location of origin.
The second floor galleries, which open on 3 May 2013, centre upon four ‘trigger’ works produced after 1960: Robert Morris’ mirrored cubes (Untitled 1965/71), Hélio Oiticica’s Tropicália 1966–7, Marina Abramovic’s Rhythm 0 1974 and Barbara Kruger’s 1991/2012 work Who Owns What. In their ‘orbit’ will be diverse groups works by artists including, Rasheed Araeen, Trisha Donnelly, Ryan Gander, John Smith, Simon Starling and Alina Szapocznikow; exploring, for example, Abramovic’s role as a pioneer of performance art and Robert Morris’s defining role in minimalist sculpture.
The five works at the centre of the first floor gallery displays, opening on 19 July, were all created before 1960: Pablo Picasso’s Bowl of Fruit, Violin and Bottle 1914, The Inattentive Reader 1919 by Henri Matisse, Man Ray’s L’Enigme d’Isidore Ducasse 1920, Barbara Hepworth’s Single Form (Eikon) 1937–8 and Summertime: Number 9A 1948 by Jackson Pollock. The constellations around them trace multiple relationships between these modern masterpieces and other key episodes across art history, and include works by Constantin Brancusi, Robert Delaunay, Isa Genzken, Douglas Huebler, Daria Martin and León Ferrari.
Accompanying the new displays, Tate Liverpool will also welcome a major new work for the foyer: Cerith Wyn-Evans’ Astrophotography… The Traditional Measure of Photographic Speed in Astronomy… by Siegfried Marx (1987) 2006. The spectacular installation comprises an enormous glass chandelier, which flashes under the control of a morse code unit. The new installation marks the departure of the popular Jacob Epstein sculpture Jacob and the Angel 1941 which has been enjoyed by visitors to the gallery since 2009.
Tate Liverpool’s collection displays will once again be sponsored by DLA Piper. DLA Piper has sponsored the collection at Tate Liverpool since 2005 and the commitment they have pledged to the current displays will continue through to 2015, marking a decade of collaboration between the two organisations.
Philip Rooney, Liverpool Office Managing Partner at DLA Piper, stated:
DLA Piper is delighted to be continuing its successful collaboration with Tate Liverpool. The importance of arts and culture to regeneration and economic growth cannot be underestimated nor can their place in the creation of a world class city environment, and the city region is very fortunate to have such an iconic global arts brand in its midst. Particularly in these difficult economic times business support for the sector is critical. We are particularly proud that our support of Tate Liverpool has enabled outstanding works from the Tate collection to be brought to the gallery to be enjoyed free of charge by residents of the city region and visitors alike.
Andrea Nixon, Executive Director, Tate Liverpool, said:
DLA Piper’s tremendous support has enabled us to once again bring an exciting and diverse series of collection displays to Liverpool. Constellations presents modern masterpieces by familiar artists alongside works never seen before at Tate Liverpool, broadening visitors’ knowledge and understanding of modern and contemporary art.
Francesco Manacorda, Artistic Director, Tate Liverpool, added:
Once again DLA Piper’s sponsorship has allowed us to experiment with new ways of presenting the Tate collection to our audiences. In this project we aim to encourage visitors to ‘join the dots’ between artworks, like with stars forming a constellation.
