Luckily enough, “blue January” is not always as bad as it was yesterday. I hope you survived this awful “Blue Monday”, which could have been the more depressing ever, as the Telegraph explains it. But here is an idea to put an end to bad mood! I’ll present you an exhibition where you will have a great time, especially if you are fond of photography. Go to the Tate Modern and ask for the Sir Elton John’s Modernist Photography Collection. You’ll see masterpieces of photography there! And at the same time you’ll discover the Tate’s new building. Follow the guide…

One of the largest private collections of photography in the world

 I did not know much of Sir Elton John’s interest for photography until this new exhibition at The Tate. Actually, I was very surprised how sensitive and aware he is about the subject. He explains in a video how he began to collect some of the most iconic photos from Man Ray (this is maybe the largest gathering of this artist’s artistic work!), Aleksandr Rodchenko, Dorothea Lange,  Edward Steichen, André Kertész and many more… I was stunned by the quality of this exhibition and recommend it to anyone fond of photography dating back to the modernist period of the 1920s–50s.
I personally appreciate Sir Elton John’s choices, as I think he selected not only the most iconic photographs, but also the most touching ones. Either by their history (or the history of the photographed models and photographers), their techniques (as it is mostly the case in Man Ray’s artwork), or their composition. Unfortunately I was not allowed to take any picture, which is a great excuse for you to see it for yourself …! Go there, Art will cheer you up and you’ll forget about January’s mood!

The Tate’s new building

The “Radical Eye” exhibition is located into the new extension of the Tate Museum. It has been unveiled last summer, and this new 10-storey building, is known as the “Switch House”.
I really appreciate to wander in this new building, because I find it very photogenic. I like the combination of perpendicular and curved lines, as well as the mixed ochre and grey colors.

This is a very contemporary and pure architecture, as expected, but I find this part of the Tate even more interesting than the other building called “The Boiler”.
And for those who want to experiment a new vision of photography, you can find a (sort of) lab at the end of the exhibition, where you can shoot the model of your choice with an innovative filter!

What are you waiting for? Hurry to visit the Tate!
And let us know on this blog what you thought of this exhibition!