Agnes and Sonia

If you haven't seen it yet then I strongly suggest that you go and see both the Sonia Delaunay and the Agnes Martin exhibitions at Tate Modern.  What's more I suggest that you see them in that order.

They are both excellent exhibitions and both do very different things.  

The Delaunay exhibitions is a riot of colour.  Her style of juxtaposing vivid geometric shapes of colour is striking and exvocative, the zenith of which for me at least is Flemanco Dancers.  Her journey from conventional artist to fashion and homeware designer is an intriguing one and is documented well in this excellent exhibition.

Then, when you emerge with your brain reeling from the assault on the eye, stroll accross to Agnes Martin on the other side.

Her works are deeply calming and meditative. If you are not familiar Agnes Martin's main style of work  is repetive shapes, usually squares,  in subtle muted colours.  There is something about this that is thought provocking and deeply reasuring.  The room of the Twelve Island paintings was particularly effective.  The curator of this exhibition has thought this through.

Well worth it.