Emma GoMa, Glasgow Museum of Modern Art
I took some time out from lounging around the house and playing The Sims to visit GoMA and take in the current Aaron Angell Exhibition. Of course the day I decide to do this Glasgow is covered in snow!
If you only know GoMA for the Duke and his angled cone hat outside, drag yourself inside as not only is it stunning but it also has a cafe and library downstairs (with free WiFi).
I can remember coming here when the building’s main use was a library. I loved the smell of the old books and imagining that this was my house. Did you know that GoMA was originally built as a house for tobacco merchant Lord William Cuninghame.
The building at Royal Exchange was converted to a library around 1954 and was known as Stirling’s Library.
Stirling’s Library was founded in 1791 as a free library funded by a Glasgow merchant, Walter Stirling. The library was located in his house in Miller Street and in 1954 it was moved to the Royal Exchange on Queen Street. It was moved back to Miller Street in 1994 to allow for the building’s conversion into the Gallery of Modern Art. The library then returned to the building’s basement as the Library at GoMA in 2002 and has been there ever since.
Anyway, back to the present day. I was in to see an Exhibition of work by Aaron Angell. This consisted of ceramic sculptures, an inflatable and plants. Sounds…interesting. Each of the pieces references the complex history of GoMA’s site as a home, garden and neoclassical fancy.
A Wardian Case from the collection of Glasgow Museums is the first thing you see. This is a Victorian fern case which was refurbished especially for the exhibition.
A stunning piece of Glasgow history and it fits in well with the surroundings of GoMA.
Next up was a piece of inflatable furniture filled with what looked like a Roman heating system. I’m thinking the reference to the building here is of history and residence?
A methane ‘sewer’ gas lamp is lit throughout the day. Unfortunately, it wasn’t on for my visit. The sconce of the lamp is said to be modelled on a Roman coin. More connections to the long history of this site.
The huge cabbage caught my eye. It is housed in a planter constructed by Aaron Angell and will grow throughout the show.
The three urns looked just like the kind of thing I used to make in art class!
These are cinerary urns which Romans used for the remains of cremated married couples. Again, thinking of the previous owners perhaps? Who knows?!
Next up, frogs and toads on the purgatorial ladder. By this point I was lost in what was meant here! I liked it but just couldn’t connect it with the building at all.
Location
Exhibition – Aaron Angell runs until 18th March 2018 and is FREE.
Opening Hours
Mon 10:00am – 5:00pm
Tue 10:00am – 5:00pm
Wed 10:00am – 5:00pm
Thu 10:00am – 8:00pm
Fri 11:00am – 5:00pm
Sat 10:00am – 5:00pm
Sun 11:00am – 5:00pm
Telephone 0141 287 3050
Email – museums@glasgowlife.org.uk
