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| Watch a video about "Babel." |
But this time, two art installations stood out to me.
Firstly, I appreciated the National Covid Memorial Wall. Adorned with hand-painted hearts and an open invitation to write the name of a lost loved-one, it is maintained by volunteers. What are other countries doing to commemorate the 7 million+ people who died during the pandemic?
Secondly, I loved the Tate Modern Art Museum. Mostly free, it features artworks by Matisse, Dali, Picasso, Warhol, Lichtenstein, but the one that completely captured my attention was "Babel" by Cildo Meireles.
Entering the room from around the corner, the 8 meter behemoth at first seems like any other antiquated busted tower, inviting you to look up, but then you notice the materials—stacks of radios arranged upward from large to smaller, old to newer technology, and then you discover these radios are ON, tuned to different stations!
If you know the biblical story of the Tower of Babel, its meaning is obvious and then you slowly realize it is simultaneously meaningless as it floods the room with quiet and scratchy radio nonsense—discordant sounds, and voices, and languages from throughout the world. In other words, it's trippy and clever. Although constructed in 2001, it's also very 2020s.
Dear friends, art sometimes uses technology to ask us humans big questions: are we truly so advanced if we still can't understand each other?
Your concluding line says it all, and says it well!
ReplyDeleteThanks Debra. Glad you're back.
DeleteIt's what we kind of do with our blogs -- Babble on.
ReplyDeleteIt sure is.
DeleteI would like to check out the Tower of London, so much history packed into this city, have a nice week.
ReplyDeleteDespite it's violent history, it's a beautiful spot. I most enjoyed watching school kids on field trips being entertained by the costumed interpreters.
DeleteA trip to London is definitely on my bucket list.
ReplyDeleteIt's worth it.
DeleteIf people can't listen then how do they communicate?
ReplyDeleteHow indeed?
DeleteI have been to London twice, and I loved it both times. Two of my favorite places are St. Paul's Cathedral and the Tower of London.
ReplyDeleteTower Bridge is a fun experience too.
Delete...art soothes my soul and helps to keep me sane!
ReplyDeleteMe too.
DeleteIt sounds like a wonderful time.
ReplyDeleteExcellent thoughts on Babel.
All thanks to the artist and his vision.
DeleteBabel is brilliant, a wonderful analogy for our times.
ReplyDeleteIt sure is!
DeleteI had no idea there were any Covid memorials anywhere. That's great! Funny how it seems like ancient history now, when a mere five years ago, we were still in the thick of it.
ReplyDeleteI think it's great too. Reading the names handwritten by family members and friends on that wall is quite sobering.
DeleteBoth the tower of Babel and the Covid wall sound amazing to see. Covid seems like both so long ago and just the other day, very strange.
ReplyDeleteYes, it seems we're all still processing it.
DeleteThank you for stopping by my "love of art" blog. I enjoyed your observations. London is my favorite city to visit. I've been many times and I always find the art fascinating. I love the Tate Modern almost as much as I love the Tate Britain.
ReplyDeleteI have not been to the Tate Britain, sigh. Thanks for bringing new art pieces into my life.
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