After visiting Battersea, I headed on the Underground to Blackfriars. From here, it is a short walk across the River Thames to the Tate Modern Gallery on South Bank. As I crossed the bridge, I made this image of a stunning building on the South Bank.
I believe the building is “One Blackfriars”, also called “The Vase”. Walking along South Bank, a busker was playing a harp. This was the first time that I encountered the harp as the musical instrument played by a busker! Looks like he has a card reader for collecting tips. He was playing in front of a spectacular mural that shows part of the city of London, looking west along the Thames.
At the entrance to the Tate Modern, I captured this image of part of the forecourt.
The Tate Modern is another building that once served as a power station, very similar to the one at Battersea! This used to be called the Bankside Power Station. The huge generator hall now serves as an atrium and contains several of the larger art works.
There are many very well known works of art in this museum. One of the works is Andy Warhol’s image of Marilyn Monroe. This picture contains a diptych of two prints, each with 25 screen-printed images of Marilyn; one in color and one in monochrome. Originally, this was two separate prints. However, one of Warhol’s friends suggested that they be presented as a diptych.
With all the exhibits of this picture during the last 60 years or so, the surface was covered with all sorts of dirt, bugs, insect eggs, etc. This picture has recently been restored. There was also a video that explained the history of the picture and details of the restoration process.
Diane Arbus has several prints at the Tate Modern. This one of “Identical Twins” is one that I remember from photographic books and magazines.
Another work is this well-known Piet Mondrian painting that was on display in the gallery.
One of the galleries has several large sized abstract paintings. This included an exhibit of the Rothko Seagram Murals. There was also an interesting abstract painting by Gerhard Richter, that I captured below.
After visiting some of some of the other works on display, it was time to leave the Tate Modern. Right outside the Tate is the “Millennium Bridge” that crosses the Thames and leads to St. Paul’s Cathedral.
This bridge is for pedestrian use only. There is an interesting story of the wobbling of the bridge when first opened. After being opened for two days, the bridge was closed to foot traffic for a couple of years until problems were rectified! Search for “wobbling bridge London” for details.