Tate Modern's Lichtenstein retrospective and idea # 119 is Colonialism and Imperialism

Radio (1962)

I got an email advising that time was running out on the Lichtenstein show at the Tate's Bankside gallery so decided that I should make at least one visit to the exhibition and attended on Friday.

Nudes with beach ball (1995)

 It's a great ticket and at times I felt that I was actually inside a comic (the published type rather than the human performing version). It was of course illuminating to observe the 'journey' that Roy made from his early work (like little big painting) to his almost self parodying later canvases.

View to St Pauls

One of the attractions of the Pop genre generally is the humour and Roy was a master at this and it was to the forefront in room 7 of the exhibition ( not only did Roy use Comic books but also other artists who he admired  clearly shown in the Art about Art section ) where reference (and reverence) was paid to other names- including Mondrian and Picasso. A great work for me in this room was 'Reflections on  Interior with girl drawing' which as well as referencing the Picasso work used an element that Roy was much exercised by that is reflections and mirrors (Room 9 had more on this).


Lichtenstein appears  in some ways undeveloped but the work he undertook although limited was expertly crafted and multi-layered, as could be seen in his late period nudes and his deconstruction of Chinese Landscapes.

Another benefit of  visiting Tate Modern is the members' Bar/Café  has great views over the millennium footbridge to St Pauls.

By the way for those in the UK interested in the art of the 20th Century I would recommend a BBC 4 TV show called Great Artists in Their Own Words you can see it on the BBC Iplayer

Colonialist Rhodes across the Land



Another Big Idea- Colonialism and Imperialism

From the 16th Century Industrialised European nations sought to control the sources of raw materials used in the manufacture of products, this they did by invasion and subjugation of the non industrialised world or Colonialism/Imperialism.

The colonies they created then became markets for the controlling 'home' country. As well as exploiting the colonised peoples they influenced and subverted the cultures leading to their ultimate
removal as the controlling powers.  Some commentators now consider that there is hegemony in place even now, that  being an economic one..