Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
Wchicken Tate Modern announced a major exhibition dedicated to Frida Kahlo, few doubted that it would be popular. The Mexican artist has become one of the world’s most recognizable social figures, with his image adorning everything from tote bags to T-shirts.
But even Tate was not prepared for the extent of his importance. The venue says more than 41,000 tickets have already been sold Frida: Making an Iconwhich opens on 25 June, making it the highest-selling exhibition in the Tate’s history, surpassing David Hockney’s previous record of 32,000 sales in 2017.
“We are very impressed with this,” Catherine Wood, long-time director of Tate Modern, told the Guardian.
The interest surrounding Kahlo is not unique. I have the British Museum preparing for the arrival of the Bayeux paintings, and other galleries that have exhibitions dedicated to artists including. Money, Hockey, Renoir and It’s Goldinmuseums in Britain seem to be witnessing a resurgence of the blockbuster exhibition – although there are fears that the epidemic has changed the way of listening.
“I think the predictions of a blockbuster decline have been proven wrong,” Wood said. “We think of them as faith builders, so that audiences come back to our free shows and discover amazing artists they might not know about. We’re always trying to think about how we can support these shows in ways that speak to the next generation and today’s issues.”
The Bayeux paintings, on display in London from 10 September, are expected to be one of the most sought-after exhibitions in the history of the British Museum, with the museum already describing it as “the exhibition of the century”.
Demand for pre-sale tickets was very high this week for members faced hours-long lines and the museum’s website crashed, prompting comparisons on social media to the Glastonbury ticket crisis.
A spokesman for the British Museum said it was the “best-ever first day of sales for any exhibition put on by the museum”.
At the National Gallery, the latest Van Gogh exhibition was held by the institution The most popular show that has tickets. The video attracted 334,589 views and stayed open overnight during the final weekend to meet demand.
Museums believe that the appeal of major exhibitions goes beyond the artists themselves. In the age of advertising, media and digital reproduction, agencies say visitors are placing greater value on viewing original works in person.
“You can find pictures of Frida online or in books, but people want to be in a room with an original painting that this person did,” Wood said. “People love tradition and belonging, and these days there are very few principles of shared faith and shared culture.
“Frida Kahlo represents many things to many different people. Her femininity, her gender identity, her love for both men and women, her courage in revealing her disability and the way she made herself.
Wood said Kahlo’s continued popularity also reflects a growing search for figures that seem authentic in an era of political and cultural uncertainty.
“People are looking for ways to move forward and be sustainable, for people who are brave enough to have experiences in their lives.” Although his life was full of pain and disappointment, he showed a way to live and live a good life.”
The National Gallery agreed with that opinion, saying that it would be encouraging to think that the popularity of big shows shows the great hunger of people for social events.
Museums remain under pressure from rising costs and declining government funding, making successful exhibitions critical to fundraising and membership growth. “We are all facing the much-publicized financial crisis, so exhibitions of all kinds, and many other ways, are important to all of us,” the National Gallery said.
“Absolutely,” Wood said when asked if major exhibitions were important to the Tate’s finances. “Half of our audience are members, and their loyalty is vital to Tate’s fortunes.”
There is even a bit of “healthy competition” between galleries that compete for audiences for blockbuster shows. “The best shows we all do, they grow the audience for the arts,” Wood said.
Other Tate draws include his recent Tracey Emin show, Second Lifewhich has attracted 234,000 visitors since it opened in February and is still more than two months old. “Tracey Emin has exceeded our predictions in terms of visitor numbers.” “Like Frida, people have been deeply moved by the raw honesty of her work,” Wood said.
Tate also has high hopes for an exhibition of 90s art and fashion, curated by former Vogue editor Edward Enninful, which he hopes will attract a growing number of visitors to our final “offline” period when it opens in October.
Yet the blockbuster reboot is taking place against the odds. Total visitor numbers to Britain will remain below pre-pandemic levels, suggesting that while audiences may not have returned, they are keen to attend major cultural events.
Bernard Donoghue, director of the Association of Leading Visitor Attractions, said the number of visitors to its members is still 7% below 2019. “Recovery after the epidemic has not been fully achieved,” he said. In the years since, there has been a sound warning about returning to crowded places.
“We’ve seen the incredible success of Van Gogh at the National Gallery, Marie Antoinette at the V&A and Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style at the King’s Gallery, which sold out and are now expanding due to unprecedented demand. It shows that the right story, told well and capturing the public’s imagination, can empower and delight audiences.”
