The art of the perfect fit

Review: Rodin and The Art of Ancient Greece at the British Museum

Posted by D.R.A.W in Featured · June 2018

Find out what D.R.A.W Recruitment thought when we visited the British Museum to take a look at Rodin and The Art of Ancient Greece exhibition. The exhibition continues until 29th July 2018.

This is a well-researched and put together exhibition which established a genuine tone, like Rodin’s passion for antiquities, from the start. The exhibition highlights the importance of artistry, which isn’t necessarily the production of something new, but the reworking of old themes, ideas, models. The quotes that accompany the show are as if the artist and his aides are there to guide visitors through it.

Rodin’s sculptures are incredibly full of emotions, even when they don’t feature a face. A hand can have the same emotional poignancy of a facial expression, and this is something that ties well with his constant quest for the ownership of fragments of sculptures. This led to a specific curatorial attitude to his collection, which was partly open to the elements in his garden. For instance, a Faun was labelled a “God in this rural spot”, where sunlight took “pleasure in caressing his amorous hips”.  The sculptures show the artist’s integrity, but were also something moulded by love, embedded in warmth.

Unlike many blockbuster exhibitions that are so fashionable these days, and bear no or little connection with their hosting gallery, this one stems from the visceral passion that Rodin had for the British Museum, as it was almost a shrine containing his favourite ancient sculptures.

We have taken some photos to accompany our review, though Rodin would have hated a society so photo-dependant like ours, as, in his view, the medium didn’t convey enough movement, reducing the photographer to a liar, as nothing remains in perfect stillness in real life.

 

Rodin and the art of Ancient Greece is on at the British Museum, until 29th July. For more information visit: www.britishmuseum.org

 

    

Notes from DRAW · 20.06.2018

Read More
The Eiffel Tower

Spotlight on: Paris, France

As the second edition of Paris+ au Art Basel has drawn to a close, and the doors of Paris Photo 2023 opening, this month we are shining our spotlight on Paris. Recent gallery openings including Modern Art and Hauser & Wirth highlight a clear shift in focus to Paris. Alongside Paris+, Asia Now…

DRAW Recommends: ‘The Art Fair Story; a rollercoaster ride’ Melanie Gerlis…

As Frieze, and the buzz of autumn in London descends upon the art industry, seasoned veterans and first time gallery assistants alike will find a wry smile of recognition somewhere in Melanie Gerlis’ ‘The Art Fair Story’. An overview from Robert Zwirner’s take on a trade show to the jam…

Spotlight on: Accra, Ghana

DRAW Recruitment have been fortunate enough to be asked to work on two new roles in Accra recently, so we wanted to shine a light on this fascinating city, which is a melting pot of cultures and ethnicities and find out what it has to offer. Once labelled “Africa’s Capital Of Cool” by the New…

AWITA Sponsored Memberships

DRAW are incredibly proud to support this years AWITA Sponsored Membership programme. AWITA strives to support the talent pipeline through professional development, mentoring and networking. Fifteen sponsored memberships are available annually to encourage the widening participation and diversity…