Time out at Tate

A rare opportunity to visit Tate Modern and Tate Britain. Both galleries have expanded and altered in recent years so plenty of new experiences.

At Tate Modern a huge new display space has been opened up in the tanks of the old Bankside Power Station. Currently this area is home to five installations collectively entitled Voices. Favourites were The Unfinished Conversation and Forty Part Motet with Wetin You Go Do? a close third. The atmosphere in this subterranean space is calming and cathedral-like as the sounds from the different installations reverberate in the central space.

Tate Britain has also undergone major refurbishment enabling the display of more works from the collection. In the main galleries visitors are invited to Walk Through British Art as they make their way around the nine galleries. More light, more space, more paintings. Definitely a big improvement.

Currently an exhibition of the work of cinematic artist Ray Harryhausen displays the apocalyptic paintings of John Martin and the fantastical drawings of Gustave Dore alongside models, set designs, posters and clips from films including Clash of the Titans and The Golden Voyage of Sinbad. Interesting links and great fun.

Change too in the Clore Gallery. Originally housing the works of J.MW. Turner bequeathed to the nation by the artist himself, the gallery is now home to a permanent space given over to the display of Tate's extensive collection of work by William Blake. Occupying two small, dimly lit rooms at the top of the Clore (Blake's works are fragile), William Blake and his Legacy shows works by the artist himself with later works by artists influenced by his style and preoccupations. Chief among these is Cecil Collins but Stanley Spencer and Graham Sutherland both make an appearance.

Tate Modern's expansion has led to a rearrangement of the restaurant spaces. The Kitchen & Bar (previously the 6th Floor restaurant) still does an excellent meal with great views over the Thames. Sadly, the same cannot be said of the Café at Tate Britain which remains disappointing on every level.