I was fascinated by this video which went on show today on the ground floor of Tate Liverpool.
The children are looking at Picasso’s ‘Weeping Woman’ which is on display as part of the DLA Piper Series: This Is Sculpture.
At first they make simple observations like ‘I see a woman crying’, ‘There are lots of colours’ etc. but then they get more descriptive and talk about the emotions and feelings in the painting and then they become more and more imaginative about what this woman’s story could be. Why is she crying? Has someone passed away, is she lonely, has someone been cruel to her, maybe they are tears of joy, perhaps she’s been given a sports car for her birthday or could her evil step-mother have sent her a letter saying ‘you’re next!’
When children (or adults too I’m sure) are encouraged to look carefully at art for prolonged periods and then discuss it, it’s amazing what they come up with.
In a second video a girl called Ruth is sitting on the gallery floor drawing Picasso’s work. It’s interesting to see how she concentrates but is sometimes distracted by what’s happening around her and after a while spends less time looking at the work on the wall as she speeds up to finish her drawing. Sadly we don’t get to see her version.
Tate Liverpool – Rineke Dijkstra: I See a Woman Crying 26 April – 30 August 2010
In April 2010 Tate Liverpool is proud to unveil new commissions by acclaimed Dutch artist Rineke Dijkstra. Rineke Dijkstra: I See a Woman Crying features two Liverpool-based video works never seen before in the UK. Tate Liverpool, Wolfson Gallery. Admission Free.
