leeds art gallery.

As of yesterday, I handed in my first paper of my semester here at the Leeds Uni.  Definitely not one of my better papers, but at least that’s out of the way.  Now that I’ve got more time on my hands, I finally had the chance to check out the Damien Hirst exhibition at the Leeds Art Gallery.  Perfect timing as the exhibition ends on the 30th of this month.

As for the exhibition, there were a lot less works than what I was expecting.  Of course I knew the entire gallery wouldn’t be filled to the brim with Hirst works but it was still a relatively small exhibition.  One room contained ten Hirst works and there was another area (that I almost didn’t notice until I was leaving the gallery) that has three more works and a recreation of Pharmacy, Hirst’s restaurant that closed in 2003.  Highlights for me included the recreation of Pharmacy (1998-2003), Away from the Flock (1994), and Aniline/Chloropicrin (Diptych) (2010).

The gallery is also on the smaller side and filled with a large variety of British artists.  I didn’t recognize any of the works or the artists, so it was quite interesting to see the work of the Brits.  Unfortunately, a big chunk of what is shown in the gallery was more along the lines of representational oil paintings, which isn’t my cup of tea.  That isn’t to say that I don’t appreciate that style, it’s just not what interests me.

Can you see the huge poster for the Leeds International Film Festival?  I cannot wait to watch Shame next month.  I’ve already purchased my ticket and I’ve convinced a friend to join me.  Turns out that the film society will also be going (I’m a member).  Super stoked for that!

Anyway, I’m off to Oxford early tomorrow morning so it’s time to get a little sleep.