Whitechapel Gallery Re-opens

Last Sunday 5th April 2009,  marked another historical chapter for the east-end of London with the re-opening of the Whitechapel Gallery, a century old art institution which has shown famous artists’ works  such as David Hockney; Picasso;   Frida Kahlo and more……..

After a vast 2 year expansion project aquiring the neighbouring Whitechapel Library, there are now 9 Galleries including an Archive gallery with research facilities and Reading Room; a newly revamped funky cafe/bar designed with bamboo interiors; project spaces showing local community-based works; educational resources for local schools/ teachers/artists with the Study Studio and 2 Creative Studios; a Bookshop and the new Whitechapel Gallery Dining Room.

There is something suitable for every taste and all ages. The galleries will be open throughout the year, so there will always be something to see or do with Poetry and music evenings, film screenings, gallery talks/events with a new addition of  Theatre plays.

Exhibition highlights include, a retrospective of  monumental sculptural works by German artist Isa Genzken; commissioned work by Turner prize nominee Goshka Macuga, which re-visits a moment in the Whitechapel’s history of showing Picasso’s Guernica  in 1939; a British Council collection of early buys of works by artists including Lucian Freud;  Sarah Lucas; Damian Hirst; Gilbert & George and Chris Ofili.

Also showing are films by Ursula Mayer in the Auditorium;  The Whitechapel Boys; Archive Adventures; Minerva Cuevas’  “Scoop” project; Social Sculptures by artists including Franz West, Juergan Teller and Andrew Grassle.

For further information see www.whitechapelgallery.org