VISITKENT
Turner Contemporary
CELEBRATES A STELLAR YEAR
One exciting event has followed another at Margate ’ s Turner Contemporary in 2016 . The world-class art gallery has celebrated its fifth anniversary , welcomed The Bank of England for an exclusive launch and hit two million visits . All this will be topped off with a major exhibition of JMW Turner ’ s work this autumn .
Paul Nash , Eclipse of the Sunflower , 1945 Oil on canvas Courtesy British Council Collection
JMW Turner , Vermilion Towers , c . 1834 Gouache and watercolour on paper ©' A9 Tate , London 2015
JMW Turner , Landscape with Water , c . 1840-5 Oil on canvas ©' A9 Tate , London 2015
On 16 April 2016 , Turner Contemporary was awash with celebration as the gallery marked its fifth anniversary by bringing together locals and visitors from further afield for a party . The day ’ s programme included workshops , live music performances , a flashmob , JMW Turner-inspired cocktails , and of course a birthday cake – baked by chef Chetna Makan and cut by artist Tracey Emin .
In its five years since opening , Turner Contemporary has had much to celebrate , including visits from Her Majesty the Queen and HRH the Duchess of Cambridge , as well as the Governor of the Bank of England Mark Carney for the launch of the new £ 20 note featuring JMW Turner , forecast to be released in 2020 .
The gallery has also curated and hosted exhibitions by leading contemporary artists , such as Tracey Emin , Grayson Perry and Jeremy Deller . It has housed internationally important historical artworks , including Rodin ’ s ‘ The Kiss ’ and this year welcomes even more , including works by Leonardo Da Vinci and William Blake in the current exhibition Seeing Round Corners : The Art of the Circle and over 100 works by JMW Turner in JMW Turner : Adventures in Colour opening this September .
Turner Contemporary is the perfect venue for this autumn ’ s exhibition . Built on the site where Turner stayed when he visited Margate , the gallery ’ s inception was inspired by the revolutionary artist and his connections with the town . At Turner Contemporary , visitors are immersed in Turner ’ s world , as the expansive windows allow a ( modernised ) view of the coastline that the artist was familiar with .
Turner loved Margate for the sea , the skies , and his landlady Mrs Booth . For him , location was of great importance . He remarked to the influential writer and art critic John Ruskin that “… the skies over Thanet are the loveliest in all Europe ”. The unique quality of light in this part of Kent drew Turner back time and again .
More than 100 of Turner ’ s works , including some of his most famous seascapes , were inspired by the East Kent coast . JMW Turner : Adventures in Colour is the fullest survey of the artist ’ s watercolours of Margate yet to be shown at the gallery .
“ Colour is the essence of Turner ’ s work ,” says curator and leading Turner expert Ian Warrell . “ And his distinctive , sometimes eccentric use of vibrant colour was absolutely central to his achievement as an artist . In placing colour at the heart of the project , the familiar outline of Turner ’ s life and art is explored in a new way .”
While this is sure to be a blockbuster show , don ’ t wait until autumn to head to Margate . The current exhibition Seeing Round Corners , is similarly spectacular and has received rave reviews in national and local media , including The Daily Telegraph , BBC Radio 4 ’ s Front Row and Saturday Review , while Laura Cumming writing for The Observer said : “ This is the most stimulating and compelling exhibition .”
All of this world-class art is matched by world-class learning and events programmes , including hands-on workshops and playful activities for all ages .
Seeing Round Corners until 25th September 2016
JMW Turner : Adventures in Colour 8th October 2016 – 8th January 2017
www . turnercontemporary . org
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