Giacometti | Tate Modern | Art Review | London

When you look at the human face, you always look at the eyes. An eye has something special about it, it's made of different matter than the rest of the face

-Alberto Giacometti

Alberto Giacometti one of the greatest painter-sculptures of the 20th century

Simon and I went along to The Tate Modern today to go see the new Alberto Giacometti exhibition which is running until the 10th of September. Born in Switzerland in 1901, his father Giovanni Giacometti was a post-impressionist painter and he grew up sounded by his father's books and paintings which inspired him to make his own drawings, oil paintings and sculptures. 

Early on in his career when he was living in Paris he engaged with movements such as Cubism and Surrealism. Throughout his life, he returned to working with live models focuses on the human form and creating stylised but realistic sculptures.

During the second world war, he spent most of his time in Geneva and when the war ended he returned to Paris and went on to create elongated sculptures with highly textured surfaces for which he is best known for. 

The exhibition at The Tate is huge, the first room filled with mainly sculptures depicting the head. It was tremendous seeing just how many styles he experimented with. Giacometti tended to work with clay or plaster where he could work with his hands then later cast them in bronze. Throughout his life in order to earn a living, he collaborated with interior designer Jean-Micheal Frank and produced decorative objects such as lamps, vases and jewellery

His work truly is magnificent. His sculptures and styles are vast, there is also a film where you can see him working in his Parisian workshop and get a real insight into his work practise and thoughts.

A must see,

Caroline