Tate Modern Review

As soon as you walk into the room, colour, texture and contrast capture the viewers attention. Energy and Process which is located on level four in the Tate Modern uses a wide variety of materials. 'Homeworkers' which was created over four decades, is themed around feminism and gender division and creates a strong message to the audience. This really caught my attention as being a female I can relate to the work that the artists created and understand the message that was being portrayed. Tracey Emin, Margaret Harrison, Annette Messager and Rosemarie Trockel's work all hold pride of place on the walls of room eight. Although the work was not in chronological order, visually the work was eye catching to the audience. Ann Coxon and Valentina Ravaglia curated the exhibition.

Margaret Harrison's "Homewreckers" (1977) was created first out of all the artists and connotes the message of the working conditions that women had to deal with and the unfair second rate labour.  This was created after the Equal Pay Act December 1975 to support the message to a wider audience. This piece included different objects such as gloves, buttons and broaches and represents the production line process. The hands that are painted onto the canvas symbolise the manual work involved in this work.

(Author's own photos)

(Harrison, Margaret. 1977. "Homeworkers")

Tracey Emin's "Hate and Power can be a terrible thing" is the most recent and modern artwork in this gallery section being made in 2004. This artwork of a quilt included two patches inscribed in the artists handwriting, referring to the Falkland War "In 1982, a year so many conscripts did not got home - Because you. You killed them all." Looking at the work physically, there is so much to take in that every time you view it, you discover something different to look at and understand it better. As Tracey herself said "For me, being an artist isn't just about making nice things or people patting you on your back; it's some kind of communication, a message."(Grosenick, Uta. 2003. Women Artists: In the 20th and 21st Century. Germany. TASCHEN) This is clearly portrayed through her work as her message about feminism shines through.

(Author's own photos October 2013)

(Emin, Tracey. 2004. "Hate and Power Can be a Terrible Thing")

My initial reaction to both the quilt work was the use of vibrant colours and range of textures that were included. A variety of media was used such as textile work for the material, graphics work for the text and 3D Design which all interest me. This caught my eye as a practitioner as physical and handmade creations inspire me to make my own work. 

Annette Messager's 'The Pikes' (1992-1993) was influenced by Surrealism and connotes the hierarchies of power between men and women through the staggered poles. Her work usually questions the perception of women. Children's play is shown with the toys on top of the spikes and creates a parallel with the spikes which represent the decapitated head of the French Revolution. This also refers to the feminist message as women were not allowed to carry these trophies.  This work was extremely striking in the layout as it was constructed on two walls. 

(Author's own photos)

(Messager, Annette. 1992-3. "The Pikes")