Recently I went to the South East’s stunning new art gallery Turner Contemporary, in Margate, Kent. The building, designed by Stirling Prize Winner David Chipperfield Architects, opened in April 2011. Turner Contemporary has been the vision of Director Victoria Pomery over the last 10 years. In 2002 I was invited to an exhibition and discussion about the ideas and plans for the gallery, held in Droit House on the waterfront, I was completely bowled over by Victoria’s belief and vision for a gallery in Margate, still at that time in the very early planning stage.
Turner and the Elements is an immensely uplifting exhibition of 88 of Turner’s watercolours and paintings. The following room, the work of Hamish Fulton who has made walking the basis of his practice, shows photographs, sketches and massive very stylish typographic based work directly on the walls.
Misty view over the sea from the gallery cafe, serving delicious food
Rodin’s The Kiss
Rodin’s lifesize marble sculpture of an embracing couple, The Kiss, dominates (in a good way) the entrance hall, with the backdrop of the sea behind.
There is an impressive education programme of events, workshops and projects.