Art Under Attack: Histories of British Iconoclasm

Art Under Attack: Histories of British Iconoclasm at the Tate Britain

I went along to this exhibition having not read about it, and not really knowing what to expect. It was a lovely surprise. The exhibition was about attacks on art from the 16th century to the modern day. The first room was about the reformation, and had pieces of artwork taken from religious sites that had been parcially destroyed. I really liked seeing pieces from the collections of English Heritage and the British Museum, and the idea that the galleries had worked together to put together the exhibition. I found it really interesting that during the reformation the art works were damaged, but not removed from religious sites. It was almost as if they couldn't remove the pieces from a sacred place, but maybe I'm reading too much into that.

The room dedicated to the suffragettes I found fascinating and really moving. I can't imagine being that desperate to be treated as an equal in society that I would go to a gallery and slash a painting, but these women did. I don't agree with what they did, but through their protests and attacks women's voices were heard, and they did so much for us today.

I found the last few rooms in the exhibition disappointing, as they didn't have the meaning that the earlier displays had. for me the paintings by the Chapman brothers didn't have the passion and the history of the earlier pieces. I feel that the destruction of art as a creative act is not the same as a woman slashing at a painting to protest about her lack of rights.

I really recommend this exhibition, as it's something that stays with you afterwards and makes you think. I was surprised about how quiet the exhibition was, there were hardly any visitors on the Saturday I was there. I felt this really benefited the feel of the rooms, as it was very quiet and peaceful. I could wander round in my own time and reflect on the damaged art and the different issues that were represented.

http://www.tate.org.uk/whats-on/tate-britain/exhibition/art-under-attack-histories-british-iconoclasm