Tate New Hang 8 2005

Are you a modern art lover, or do you prefer the classics? The twentieth and seventeenth centuries collide in this fascinating painting by the Scottish realist artist Andrew Grassie (b. 1966). Grassie is known for his highly realistic paintings – this one looks just like a photograph, right? He created this work, ‘Tate New Hang 8’, in 2005 as a record of an exhibition at London’s Tate Gallery. ‘Tate New Hang 8’ was painted using egg tempera. This is a mixture of pigment and a binder (traditionally egg yolk!) which dries extremely quickly. It’s especially hardy and does not usually fade. Tempera has been used for centuries, but became less common after the Renaissance when oil paint was developed. Why might Grassie have decided to to use this historical medium rather than a newer type of paint? ️ So what exactly does this painting depict? In the foreground, we see Henry Moore’s statue ‘Recumbent Figure’. This sculpture from 1938 depicts an abstract nude female, constructed from green hornton stone. This icon of modern sculpture is contrasted with another famous artwork in the Tate collection – can you name it? On the left side of the painting is ‘The Cholmondeley Ladies’ from the early seventeenth century. it depicts two sisters sat upright in bed, holding swaddled babies. They wear extravagant white ruffs (stiff collars) edged with lace details, which frame their pale faces. The painting represents a statement of aristocracy that’s closely associated with Old England. By highlighting the physical proximity of the modern art alongside the Tudor art, Grassie calls attention to the circumstances of display. He invites the viewer to question exhibition practices, and to consider the complex decisions that are made by curators. This one image holds a thousand selections, meetings, and art historical judgements! Here, Grassie has used a muted grey colour palette which builds an atmosphere of quiet and calm. He has depicted the gallery without the presence of any visitors. We feel invited to take time to pause and ask questions about the space.