Removing N4n G0ldin’s photograph from the Baltic gallery is an act of barbarity: sterling piece from the Grauniad’s Jonathan Jones. Very disappointing, the whole saga. News via f:lux
An accidental shutter fire, you know the way that can happen? One of the surprising things about how Thanksgiving was shown, was the hanging. Drawing pins, or rather those fancy perspex map pins, and the photos are laminated. I liked it, makes the work seem all the more accessible somehow. But that in itself is a bit of an irony, since the collection was curtained-off in a walled space inside the gallery, a ‘crew’ member permanently at the entrance.
Some of us stood there gazing, slightly awestruck, talking about whether or not this was a collection of ugly snapshots, but with quite a smattering of gorgeously lit and compellingly expressive subjects (cliches, tsk), the more snapshotty ones just made the whole collection more humane. It’s an autobiography: life isn’t a series of pretty pictures.
I loved the whole thing, and I’m really sorry I only got to see it once. How on earth it is possible for the Gateshead plod to be involved in a curatorial decision, is quite beyond me. I feel like making a public apology on behalf of the whole NE. Do we really need to go to such as the White Cube to see this sort of work?
Why Documentary? is on over the river at the Side Gallery, and it is magnificent. Mini review to come…
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3 Comments
I’m glad you got to see it before it was removed. But, like you, I’m sorry I didn’t get a second chance to see again as I’d planned. Not at Baltic, anyway…
Well, the White Cube is a fabulous space, damnit.
The Side show is indeed excellent and a great demonstration that art on Tyneside didn’t start with the Baltic. I have a blog post in draft on Murray Martin who I was sad to see died ealier this year.
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