Tate presents world-class art

Sep 14 2007 by Emily Rainsford, Liverpool Daily Post

Curator Kyla McDonald looks at Degas' 'Little Dancer Aged Fourteen' at Tate Liverpool _158

FIRST came The Kiss... and from tomorrow visitors to Liverpool’s Tate Gallery will be able to view works by Picasso, Degas, Damien Hirst, Andy Warhol and Bridget Riley.

Such is the importance of the Tate’s art coup, the gallery is expecting five million visitors between now and April 2009 – spanning Liverpool’s year as European Capital of Culture.

The Tate’s show, The Twentieth Century: How it Looked and how it Felt, has already started a frenzy of excitement in the art world.

It is likely to be one of the most important exhibitions ever staged in Liverpool, featuring some of the world’s most famous art pieces.

Simon Groom, head of exhibitions at the Tate, said: “There will be world-class art in a world-class institution in a world-class city.”

He is “incredibly excited” about the showing of 180 best-loved works, and believes that the exposition of such pieces will be a huge success for the gallery. He is predicting it will be the Tate’s most popular exhibition. He said: “I think that any opportunity for people to see some of the most famous works in the world will be welcomed.

“There’s something for everyone. There are traditional paintings, but also pieces that provide more of a challenge in uncovering new and contemporary art.”

Auguste Rodin’s masterpiece, The Kiss, one of the most recognisable pieces of sculpture in the world, is already on display at the Tate, spearheading the exhibition. It is already taking pride of place in the gallery’s foyer. Mr Groom says The Kiss has already caused a big stir since its dramatic entrance into the gallery last Monday.

Enthusing about the 6ft sculpture, he said: “It’s fantastic, it looks like it’s always been there and looks more substantial, more solid and more monumental than I ever imagined.”

The exhibition, spanning three floors at the Tate, is so large it is being opened in phases. The first floor space, featuring figurative works, opens tomorrow and the abstract display opens to the public later this month. Abstract artists, including Roscoe and Pollock, will feature in the exhibition on the second floor, which opens on September 29.