Tate Modern Trip
12th January 2017
Twenty-four Year 10 GCSE art students and two young carers from Melbourn Village College spent a day visiting the Tate Modern in London.
They experienced some of the most iconic and influential modern art in the world today.
The group started by viewing the work from the permanent exhibition, learning to really look at how art is made, consider composition, tone, scale and the range of ideas that modern artists have developed.
They then went to view and research the acclaimed Rauschenberg temporary exhibition. They looked at Robert Rauschenberg’s work as a creative artist and viewed a broad range of his artworks.
During his long career, the American painter, sculptor, printmaker, designer, photographer, composer and experimental artist drew heavily on early 20th century modern art forms such as "found" objects (objets trouvés), collage and assemblage - pioneered by Picasso, Georges Braque, Kurt Schwitters and others.
The students will be using their research to enrich their GCSE sketchbook work and to produce a piece of work based on Rauschenberg’s ideas.
Students found the work “inspiring”, “creative, “mind expending” and at times difficult to understand, but felt he created work that always “makes you think”.
Head of Art Sarah Heeks reported that many students commented on the political content of his work and his image of President Kennedy and how his ideas are still thought-provoking and relevant today, in such a turbulent political climate.
She added: “The students gained an insight into how art can effectively comment on society and politics. They also saw how art techniques can be used in very creative and spontaneous way to add energy to their work.”
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