ART: Taking inspiration from art in the capital

A-LEVEL art students were inspired by the world famous works they saw in London during an exhilarating trip which took in four major galleries – and they also found time for an entertaining ghost walk and boat trip along the Thames. HETTY SIMENACZ and INDIA WILKINSON report

THE first place we went to was the Tate Modern. The highlight of this museum was viewing contemporary art and sculptures which gave us a new outlook on modern art, and how it’s developed through the years.

Next, we visited Tate Britain. Seeing art which we are currently studying helped give a different perspective of the work we are inspired by.

We were particularly excited to have the opportunity to view large-scale pieces from artists such as Cy Twombly, as we got the chance to see in-depth mark making on a canvas as opposed to a small screen.

We also had the privilege to have a tour guide who provided a more valuable insight into the history of certain artists.

Following this, we went on a ghost walk, which led us around monumental places around the city, finishing at the Tower of London. It consisted of a boat trip down the Thames, viewing the Tower Bridge.

Thirdly, we visited the Royal Academy, and in addition, the William Kentridge exhibition. This exhibition intrigued many students as not many people had seen his work before. Throughout the exhibition, screens showed small animations of how he developed each piece and short films he created which told stories about how he created each drawing.

Finally, we visited the National Gallery. Here, we saw works from artists such as Lucian Freud, Monet, and Van Gogh. It was inspiring to have the opportunity to see these world-famous paintings in real life.