Take a VIP Virtual Tour Through the Tate Modern's Andy Warhol Exhibition
On March 12, London’s Tate Modern opened its highly anticipated “Andy Warhol” exhibition. Just five days later, the museum closed indefinitely due to the coronavirus pandemic. But thanks to quick-thinking staffers, you’re currently able to view the exhibition from the comfort of your own home. Prior to the stay-at-home mandate in the United Kingdom, the museum filmed a walk-through of the show, plus a discussion by Tate curators Gregor Muir and Fiontán Moran. The resulting video, which went live earlier this week, allows would-be museumgoers to virtually take a private tour of the exhibition with expert guides—not a bad way to spend the afternoon while in lockdown.
The retrospective features more than 100 works by Warhol from throughout his career, focusing on three major themes: Warhol’s immigrant roots, his identity as a member of the LGBTQ+ community, and his relationship with death and religion. “Andy Warhol is mostly known as a Pop artist, but in this exhibition, we really wanted to return to the man, and think about all of the desires, the fears that may have [driven] him to create art,” says Moran in the video. “He was an artist that really, despite all of his insecurities, tried to be himself.”
While the video is a solid placeholder to fulfill your art needs during quarantine, it doesn’t replace an in-person experience. “We are not trying to replicate a museum visit,” says Hilary Knight, Tate’s digital director, of the video tour. “This is how we deliver Tate's purpose in an interconnected, digital way. It is our responsibility as a cultural institution to pay attention to our audiences and what they need from us, and respond compassionately, generously, and honestly.”
For visitors looking to dive deeper into the exhibition and the artist during the lockdown, there’s also the room-by-room exhibition guide; articles about Warhol, from an investigation into his relationship with his mother to a personal tale written by his friend Bob Colachello; a podcast about personas; and even how-to videos demonstrating Warhol’s printmaking process. “While it is sad that our museum doors are closed, we can still offer a rich, deep, and inspiring experience of Tate online,” says Knight.
“Andy Warhol” runs through September 6 at Tate Modern in London. Visit tate.org.uk for updates about the museum’s reopening.
Originally Appeared on Architectural Digest
