Tate Britain

The logo relates to the more contemporary exhibits in the Tate Britain museum because it is modern and edgy. However, it seems to contrast with the more classic collections, such as the Romantics. The architecture in the Tate Britain museum is also very elegant and dated, which makes the Tate Britain logo appear out of place. The overall essence of the logo is almost eery and mysterious. The logo is incorporated throughout the museum with different colors and fading techniques which help it to appear more universal throughout the collections. The logo presentation at the entrance of the museum is a bit boring and outdated and may be improved with a different type face and a more fitting logo.

Director Nicholas Hytner's Hamlet presents a more modern depiction of the infamous play. In his version of Hamlet, Ophelia is in fact murdered, rather than the more traditional take on the play, in which Ophelia kills herself.  In the play, Ophelia ends up going mad, but doesn't truly carry out her role as well as she could have and win the sympathy of the audience. The tragedy of her life isn't fully depicted in the play, whereas it is obvious in this famous painting by John Everett Millais. This painting depicts Ophelia floating in the water, surrounded by beautiful flowers and greenery. This painting captures the tragic end to her life and encompasses the sympathy that viewers hold hold for Ophelia's appalling life. This painting is most likely the most famous piece of work in the museum because it truly captures the traditional essence of the character Ophelia and beautifully adds to Shakespeare's Hamlet.

The artwork in gallery 11 and gallery 9 is displayed very differently. Gallery 11 consists of more modern and simplistic pieces, whereas gallery 9 displays the salon style hanging of the Pre-Raphaelites. The pieces in gallery 11 are displayed with a very basic arrangement consisting of the artwork by itself without any sort of frame or border. The art in gallery 9 is displayed with very ornate and elegant framing. The two different techniques used for display in these galleries are important because the two types of artwork are very different and it would not be appropriate for them to be displayed in the same manner.

"The Coral Reef" by Mike Nelson was a visually stimulating and intriguing experience for me. It was unlike any art exhibit I have every experienced and left me not knowing what to think. It was a very mysterious and almost depressing exhibit. It seems to be speaking to the flaws of American society and the tragedy that overcomes so many people. The navigation led to the mysterious element of the museum, especially the part where the entrance and exit appeared exactly the same, so it seemed as if we were stuck in the exhibit. This art is completely new to me, but I find it extremely interesting and something that I want to study more closely.

I found the V&A museum experience to be most favorable because I appreciate the more ancient and historical statues and artwork more than modern artwork. I found the architecture and display techniques to be stronger at the V&A museum and enjoyed more pieces there than at the Tate Britain Museum. The navigation at the V&A museum was much clearer, whereas I found myself lost and continually asking for assistance finding exhibits at the Tate Britain museum. I loved the Cast Courts exhibit at the V&A museum because I was able to connect all of those pieces to a particular time and place in history and I don't have quite as strong of a connection with paintings and modern art.


  

My favorite object from the collections is from "The Coral Reef" by Mike Nelson. "The Coral Reef" was completed in 2000 and was first shown at Matt's Gallery in East London. This exhibit made the biggest impression on me and left me wondering what message the artist was trying to send. The object or room that impacted me most is the blue room with the broken chair. This display seems to speak of drug addiction, heartbreak, and tragedy. There seems to be a story behind this simple collection of items and it made me contemplate what it might be and think of how much drug addiction affects the lives of people all over the world. I would return to this object, and the entire collection in general, because it is a unique form of art that I had yet to experience prior to visiting the Tate Britain museum and because the entire Coral Reef collection seems to have an underlying message within the artwork. In Nelson's words, he wants the viewers to feel 'lost in a world of lost people'.