The Death of Marat 1793
Oil paint on canvas
© Musée des Beaux – Arts. Photo: C.Devleeschauwer
A new exhibition about the influence of left-wing values on the production and reception of art has opened in the Tate Liverpool gallery.
‘Art Turning Left: How values changed making 1789 – 2013’ is described as a thematic exhibition covering a wide array of artists, from the French Revolution to the present day.
The exhibition is unlike many others in the sense that it follows a set-up which encourages visitors to ask questions such as: ‘Can pursuing equality change how art is made?’ and answer through their representation of the art surrounding them.
Art displayed includes a version of Jacques-Louis David’s image, ‘The Death of Marat 1793-4’, which is one of the most famous images of the French Revolution.
Curator Francesco Manacorda, the Tate’s Artistic Director and Assistant Curator, Eleanor Clayton, were joined by Liverpool John Moores University’s Collaborative Doctoral Award Researcher, Lynn Wray in shaping the exhibition to reflect art in everyday life, society and politics.
Eleanor Clayton told JMUJournalism: “From the ‘Guerrilla Girls’ to Jacques-Louis David, Art Turning Left explores a broad range work by artists and collectives from across the globe over the last 200 years.
“I’m delighted with the breadth of the exhibition and look forward to hearing our visitors’ feedback.”
The Tate has teamed up with Liverpool John Moores University in more ways than one. In the centre of the ‘Art Turning Left’ exhibition is ‘The Office of Useful Art’: a working office and education centre. In collaboration with Plus Tate partner, Grizedale Arts, this provides a space for visitors to hold both private and public talks.
The booking system is already filling up for the coming months, with staff members including students from LJMU’s School of Art and Design, visitors will be encourage to engage in discussions surrounding the ethos of The Office.
The notion of art in everyday life is carried through downstairs to ‘Palle Nielsen: The Model’, which includes archive material such as photographs and in particular documentation of Nielsen’s 1968 social experiment project: ‘The Model: A Model for a Qualitative Society.’ The project involved transforming the large exhibition space in Stockholm’s Moderna Museet into a free adventure playground for children, free of rules.
LJMU students have free access to the exhibition and can download their ticket online.