Tate goes Underground

London’s Old Street Tube station endeavours to take a gallery experience and incorporate it into Londoners’ commutes, with the opening of the Tate Pop-Up at the station this week.

Grayson Perry, Reliquary Pendant

The space will host a series of events, as well as selling Tate products. It is being curated by Tate Collective – the Tate’s youth art initiative that organises events both in and outside of the main gallery spaces.

Workshops will be taking place

The take-over is part of a scheme organised by Appear Here, which has seen Tait design a concept that allows different temporary retailers to set up shop in various stations on the London Underground network.
Celebrating the Matisse Cut-Outs show currently being held at Tate Modern, PAPER Collective has designed a window installation inspired by the artist for the pop-up.
Among the goods on sale will be prints, books and Tate-branded coffee, beer and gin.

Damien Hirst Doorways bag

Those looking for a more hands-on experience can have a go at classes such as Undergound Life Drawing -  a two-hour session hosted by Candid Arts; or PAPER Collective’s Matisse modules workshop on 31 May, where visitors can create jewelry and other 3D pieces inspides by the cut-out works at the Tate Modern.

Events will take place throughout the pop-up’s tenure

Another Matisse-inspired session takes place on 1 June, where Tate Collective is on hand to help make still-life collages inspided by the artist’s cut-outs.
Other highlights include a screening of Gary Hustwit’s film, Helvetica on 3 June, and a talk hosted by zine OOMK and journal SALT about women in specialist publishing on 2 June.

Tate Transformed T-shirt

Tate Pop-Up will be at Unit 2, Old Street Tube Station, London EC1Y 1BE from 28 May ­ 4 June.

(Tue, 27 May 2014 | By Emily Gosling)