Tate Modern Visit Review

Visiting an art museum has always been a worthy endeavour. It enables me to engage with a diverse range of art. Whilst allowing me to explore different ideas, even if they were in opposition to my own thinking. Seeing an art piece in the flesh provides access to new concepts and enables me expand my understanding of the context of the artwork ,with the emotions that surround the piece.

As I explored the different exhibitions in the Tate, I tried to keep an open mind and not be judgemental. I, shortly came across the work of the African-American photographer, Lorna Simpson named "then & now 2016". The art work was a combination of photography and ink which, challenges the traditional conceptions of race and identity politics. There was a simple beauty about the work that controlled my thoughts; almost commanding me to constantly gaze at it.
The black and white photographs themselves were taken during the race riots in Detroit in July 1967. Although the sixties was considered to be a heroic age for African-American politics, with the great civil right movement being passed it was still a dark time for the black population. The triumphs and tragedies of the time were reflected in the work.
Clearly the intensity of her experiences and those of the time came through. The art work had a rich context to it and I definitely considered it to be thought-provoking.


It me made question how far we have come from the 60s and how far we have to go? has there been any progress since?why do we still see police violence against black citizens ?. The idea and image connects the past to the present. It is still powerfully relevant today and to the coming generations.
No matter how much we try to ignore the injustice acts perpetrated by those in power and the ethnic discrimination, it is still something that still lays in society today.
The punchy message-driven work will certainly leave a long last impression through its raw aesthetics and intellectual content.