Mira Schendel and Berwick Street

Went to see Mira Schendel exhibition at Tate Modern this weekend which I enjoyed very much.  She was interested in transparency and text from a philosophical and religious point of view.  Her work was in monochrome or organic hues.  She  used rice paper to work on because it was cheap and plentiful.  Her work included swirls (see left), squares, circles, Perspex, hole punching, oil paint, shadows and asymmetry.  
I found it most interesting that she used 'stick on' letters, which don't necessarily form a word, some of the work is just scrawled words or letters - here I am labouring over stitch and meaning and craft and layout.  I guess some of this goes back to the conversation Nick and I had about the difference between design and fine art - design needs a 'why' or a 'what'.

Generally, I found her work inspiring.  I loved the large scale installations of hanging threads and the hanging words in Perspex (which could be viewed from either side).

The picture on the right shows the rice paper (her medium) scrunched and knotted. 

A visit to Berwick Street Market for materials was not very productive but it is always good to have a look around this area which is so close to the glossy all-embracing commercialism of Oxford Street whilst retaining the appearance and air of scruffy, specialised trade.