Sayle praises Tate’s revivalism: 20 years on, gallery is a regenerator

May 5 2008 by Vicky Anderson, Liverpool Daily Post

Tate Liverpool gallery, Albert Dock 03 _320

ALEXEI SAYLE returned to his Liverpool roots over the weekend to help Tate Liverpool mark its 20th birthday.

As part of the gallery’s schedule of celebratory events, the Anfield-born writer and performer led a tour of some of the best-known work currently on display.

He told the Daily Post: “I’m always happy to help out. I think if you come from Liverpool and are involved in the arts, you kind of owe a debt to the city really to come back and take part in projects. It’s always fun.”

With little time for the Young British Art movement, a certain understanding (although not necessarily an enjoyment) of the Picassos on display, an appreciation of the work of Francis Bacon and a regret the recent Stanley Spencer exhibition was no longer on, as he moved around the exhibition Sayle gave a refreshingly honest appraisal of what he called his “ambiguous relationship” with art.

He said: “I’ve got a degree in fine art and for me painting was a way out, because really I wasn’t that academic, but I could paint and draw and it was my way of getting to university and on in the world.

“On the other hand, a lot of 20th- century art is complex and not a similar business to what went before.

“So I’m coming at it as somebody who has a complicated relationship with art – I collect it in a small way . . . I can draw a horse without looking at a photograph. I have very mixed feelings.”

Despite that, he was pleased to be asked to get involved with something in his home city in 2008.

He said: “I thought it was nice to do, as it has been the only Capital of Culture year thing I’d been asked to do – apart from appear being in a container at the opening night.” (Which he didn’t attend).

“It’s just a chance to interact with the collection in the Tate in a positive way. I came down to see the Peter Blake exhibition last year, and if I’m in town I’ll come down and have a look round.

“It’s interesting because the Tate is one of those early examples of art as a cultural and economic generator, a very modern notion that you can build a thriving economy out of an art gallery.”

Sayle’s appearance was part of a weekend of events including family- friendly activities and a Northern Soul disco on Saturday night.

The programme continues today with comedian Brendan Riley leading a tour around the Tate and a number of free family events at the dock, including a free valuation of Beatles memorabilia at The Beatles Story.

vickyanderson