I have been fascinated by Joan Miro's art since first seeing his work in Maeght Foundation in St. Paul de Vence in France. His unique style, resembling child’s drawings, made a big impression on me at the time. Also, his colourful and surreal sculptures left a mark in my memory. Some time after, I had a chance to engage with his art in Foundation Joan Miro in Barcelona, based in the picturesque Park Montjuic. Being a great admirer of Miro’s art since then I couldn't wait to see Joan Miro exhibition in Tate Modern in London. I had a chance to do that last week on the rainy Saturday afternoon. Starting with a cup of coffee in the cafe on top of Tate’s Modern building, with a beautiful view for St. Paul's cathedral, me and my good friend got ready for our visit.
Joan Miro’s was born in Catalonia 118 years ago. His art was at first influenced by Fauvism and later developed in the direction of Surrealism. Exhibition in Tate Modern shows a remarkable number of more than 150 works by the artist and is a first big retrospective exhibition in the UK since 1964. Exhibition in Tate Modern shows the evolution of Miro’s style from Fauvism to his own, unique form of expression, as suggested by exhibition’s curators being nevertheless detached from surrealism, which are simple forms, lively colours and ‘child-like’ drawings, expressing a childhood subconsciousness.
Exhibition in Tate Modern takes us through 60 years of Miro’s life, reflecting his personality, sense of national identity and turbulent political situation in 20th century Europe. It is the biggest strength of this exhibitions that a visitor has a chance to fully engage with Miro’s life by having a possibility to read short biographic notes in each of the rooms of the exhibition, to be able to fully grasp his art from the particular period of his life afterwards.
Miro’s art is rich in Catalan folklore, reflecting artists’ sense of nationality. Exhibition is also full of political symbolism- Miro lived in Spain during Spanish Civil War and experienced living in France during World War II. Creating in Franco’s Spain, Miro’s abstract paintings became a symbol of resistance, surpassing dark days of Franco’s rule. Personally, the room which mostly influenced my imagination and sense of esthetics, was the round room with the series of blue paintings, which took me into a completely different, imaginary world created by the artist. What mostly appeals to me in Miro’s art exhibited in Tate Modern is the persistence, energy and mystery emanating from the paintings and sculptures, revealing artists determination, self-control and commitment to his work, which makes the exhibition truly authentic.
Miro himself said “I try to apply colors like words that shape poems, like notes that shape music,” and for me his art is indeed like poetry, everyone can understand it and experience it in their own way, that is why I truly recommend to visit Miro’s exhibition in Tate Modern.
Exhibition is open until 11th of September 2011, for more information visit:
http://www.tate.org.uk/modern/exhibitions/joanmiro/
