Anish Kapoor, Middlesbrough
An enjoyable afternoon in Middlebrough (!) on the trail of Anish Kapoor sculpture. Four works are on temporary display in the Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art – one clear acrylic cube that seems to contain an etched impression of a brain; one red bulbous growth that protrudes from the corner of the gallery, a polished steel sculpture in the shape of a red blood cell, and a picture that at first sght looks like a Rothko picture, but actually presents an optical illusion of a dark tunnel disappearing into the gallery wall.
The gallery itself is well worth a visit, just for the architecture – the main atrium is an impressive space.
It was then a trip to the other side of the tracks to see the major new Kapoor installation, Temenos:
This really is stunning. The sculpture itself is an impressive piece of engineering that begs to be looked at from a number of angles. It also works well against the backdrop of the Stadium of Light and the docks. It is a fascinating juxtaposition of engineering for art and the art of engineering.
A couple of notes to the local council – this is potentially a national landmark so a bit of signage for visitors would help, and when statement art and architecture (the adjoining Middlesbrough college building) are placed in a stark industrial landscape, please resist the temptation to install fussy ‘heritage-style’ lampposts in the vicinity.
