History of Art Trip to London 2023

In February, SFC1 (Year 12) History of Art students visited the galleries of Tate Modern and Tate Britain in London. On arriving at the imposing Turbine Hall, we stood beneath Cecilia Vicuña’s Brain Forest Quipu, a sensory piece of art that was calming yet eerie, providing us with an immediate insight into the emotions that an artwork can evoke. While we may be able to grasp something of this through discussions in class, the opportunity to experience artworks up close undoubtedly enhances our understanding. We all agreed that this was certainly the case when we stood before Chris Ofili’s No Woman No Cry, a painting that we had recently studied in some depth as part of the ‘Art and Identity’ A Level topic.

After lunch, we travelled up the Thames by boat to Tate Britain. The gallery’s wonderful, far-reaching collection gave us the opportunity to compare and discuss the significance of a range of historical artistic styles. During the afternoon we spent time in small groups looking at (and at times attempting to recreate!) artworks associated with the baroque, rococo, neoclassicism, as well as the incredible, and at times challenging, array of modern and contemporary movements.

Overall, this trip to London was an unmissable opportunity for the students of History of Art and was greatly beneficial to our studies, as well as our dedication to the subject. What’s more, it was a very enjoyable day out – a great experience to share with friends and peers. Not only were we able to explore pieces we have studied in class, we also had the opportunity to consider their place in relation to a wider selection of artworks. It was an excellent trip organised by the Art Department.

Hazel, SFC1 (Year 12)

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