Royal Acadamy of the Arts
Burlington Gardens W1
Nearest tube: Piccadilly
http://www.royalacademy.org.uk/exhibitions/gsk-contemporary-season/exhibitions/collision-course/dark-materials/
I was here on Saturday 17th January.
The building is beautiful, as you walk up the steps there is sculptures by Antony Micallef.
I was a bit lost on entering, I didn't know what to expect, that was OK. I wandered around a bit; the layout was interesting, like a contemporary space had just arrived or fallen into an older more reserved part of London. I walked into the redroom, which was red, and didn't hold my attention for long.
My friends and I then entered the cinema room where Malcolm McLaren's 'Shallow' was playing. (I didn't know much about it or that it was Malcolm Mclaren's upon entering). It took me a while, but by the third 'film' I began enjoying it. With big pillows laid out on the ground, one is compelled to lie in wait for each on-screen composition. I say composition as, after reding a bt about it, each is a kind of film still - paintiing. I loved the soundtrack, and was surprised to find out that Malcolm McLaren composed the music himself.
Upstairs there is a kind of 'ode to' apocolyptic scenes and ideas. William S. Burroughs is talking on many film screens placed in and around other sculpture pieces referncing his ideas and work. I can say I enjoyed walking around upstairs through-out the many rooms referencing, death and animals. I didn't find it overbearing. the room with the burnt out church by
Bank Violette was very haunting, the lighting seemed perfect and the whole room created an atmosphere. It has compelled me to explore that particular artist as I was unaware of their work before.Having actual talks by William Burroughs, and sculpture and painting etc. referncing his ideas surrounding these was effective and rewarding, and very informative, especially if you were unfamiliar with his work.
We sat in on one of the many talks being held that day, the talks also referencing the whole theme.
All in all the experience was worth having, though I can't help but feel underwhelmed as I was expecting more: like dancing girls with feathers and some kind of circus!
