This week Tate Modern unveiled their awaited rehang. It’s a move that owes much to the museum’s collaboration with UBS. The gallery hooked up with the mega-bank for a three-year stint last year and one of the first things on their agenda was a 2006 rehang. At that time the museum felt their original grouping had become stayed. However, back when Tate Modern first opened in 2000, they set a new precedent in hanging polices at large museums. Binning standard approaches of presenting artworks historically, the Tate went for a more novel approach by displaying works by way of theme. This rehang is a first for Tate Modern and, according to press so far, stays true to the museum’s original tactics. The whole shebang centers around 'UBS Openings: Tate Modern Collection', which features across Levels 3 and 5 of the building and focuses on four significant stages of twentieth century art; Cubism, Futurism, Vorticism; Surrealism, Surrealist ‘tendencies’; Abstract Expressionism, European Informal Art and Minimalism.
In its entirety, the rehang and its grouping sounds incredible. Stunning. Awesome. A real treat for aficionados, art lovers, tourists and any random passer-by who fancies a casual gander. An astonishing 40% of the works are new to Tate Modern’s illustrious walls, including Roy Lichenstein’s ‘Whaam! (above), while 20% of the pieces are new acquisitions from fairly cultish and frankly remarkable talents; Guerilla Girls, Christian Marclay, and John Baldessari to name but a few. Of course, this rehang can't fail but to be a success. Visitors can expect to experience major works from Sol Le Witt, Rachel Whitbread and Warhol. They’ll be able to get up close and personal with pieces from Picasso, Anish Kapoor, Matisse and Umberto Boccioni. And if it doen’t work, well the museum has an incredible amount of work in storage and with their ability to win over wealthy would-be sponsors, another rehang is always an option. However, given the press coverage so far that’s a move, which won’t be happening for some time yet.
