Alibis: Sigmar Polke Exhibition

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by Bryony Harrison (subscribe)

Freelance writer and poet from London; if you would like to read my poetry, please check out my book, 'Poems on the Page', available from goo.gl/Ta4oAX.

Event: 09/10/2014 - 08/02/2015

From Bubble Wrap to Snail Juice

tate modern 1974–1978, Sigmar Polke, 1963-2010

Sigmar Polke Untitled (Quetta, Pakistan) 1974–1978 Glenstone © The Estate of Sigmar Polke / DACS, London / VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn

Sigmar Polke was a German artist who experimented in many styles. He is probably best known for his photography in the 1970s and abstract paintings in the 1980s. During the last twenty years of his life, Polke focussed was on the perceptions of historical events, mainly relating to the Nazi period. Polke opposed the 'I didn't see anything' attitude of his generation, and many of his paintings reopen old wounds, making the atrocities impossible to ignore.

For the first time, the Tate Modern brings together a broad range of Polke's work, accumulated over a five-decade career. Albis looks at paintings, sculpture, drawing, photography, film, notebooks, slide projections, and photocopies. As an experimental artist, Polke used many unusual materials, encompassing everything from potatoes and bubble wrap to meteor dust and uranium. He even found a use for snail juice.

The exhibition is open until the 8th February and costs £14.50 for adults, £12.50 concessions, and free for under 12s. There will be various events you can attend, such as a screening of short films, lectures, and a four week poetry course.