British government art goes on display at London gallery
An exhibition held at the Whitechapel Gallery in London shows off an eclectic mix of art works from the United Kingdom's government art collection. The paintings on display were chosen by officials of the British government, including Nick Clegg and Samantha Cameron.
The exhibition features paintings by some very different artists, such as L.S. Lowry and Tracey Ermin. All of them are taken from the extensive collection of the British government, which includes about 13,500 pieces.
The works displayed at the exhibition cover no less than five centuries of British and international art. They normally adorn the walls of government buildings and British embassies across the world, and never before went on public display, although the collection was started 113 years ago.
The London exhibition is part of a series of five such events, meant to show to the public some of the key works in the valuable collection.
Among the highlights of the exhibition is "Lancashire Fair: Good Friday, Daisy Nook" by L.S. Lowry, which was chosen by Samantha Cameron, wife of the British Prime Minister. The 1946 painting, which features crowds of people at a fair, was bought for a record-setting £3.8 million at a 2007 auction and usually adorns the walls of Number 10 Downing Street.
Two works by contemporary British artist Tracey Emin are also displayed. "Margate 1 Sand" and "Still Love You Margate" were both picked by the Minister for Culture Ed Vaizey. John Sawers, the chief of MI6, picked "The Doors", a surrealist sculpture by Jim Lambie. "I Wonder What My Heroes Think of the Space Race", a 1962 Cold War collage by Derek Boshier was chosen by Dame Anne Pringle, the United Kingdom's ambassador to Russia.
A portrait of Queen Elizabeth I, painted by an anonymous artist, is another highlight of the exhibition. It was picked by former minister Peter Mandelson. Queen Elizabeth II is also featured, but in a photograph taken by David Dawson while the sovereign was sitting for a portrait by Lucian Freud.
The current exhibition is scheduled to last for the next three months, but will be followed by four others, which will feature different paintings from the extensive government collection.
Art historian Simon Schama and sculptor Cornelia Parker are among those who will select the pieces to be displayed. The series of exhibitions, hosted by the Whitechapel Gallery in London, will end next year in September.
