Modern Art in Stockholm

Invited by the American Club of Sweden we visited Stockholm’s Museum of Modern Art (Moderna Museeet)  for a private tour of the Turner, Monet, Twombly exhibit.  The exhibit was widely advertised as, “three of the greatest painters of the last 150 years.” The exhibit explanation continued, “This groundbreaking exhibition focuses on their later work, examining not only the art historical links and affinities between them but also the common characteristics of and motivations underlying their late style.”

Tour Guide 

We were very grateful that the American Club had arranged for a most knowledgeable guide to help our group of 28 club members interpret the “art historical links” and “motivations underlying their late styles.”  Otherwise, we would have pondered canvases with more pronounced quizzical looks than was our actual experience.

We consider ourselves sufficiently art literate to be able to distinguish a Monet from a Pollock, a Seurat from a Picasso. More importantly, we know what we like and can appreciate that the range of art that people “like” covers a board pallet of tastes.  The small collections of Monet poplars, bridges and lily pads we liked.

Turner Unfinished Painting

The partially finished Turner paintings that were exhibited were puzzling.  Our guide explained that salon expositions in Turner’s time hung paintings floor to ceiling.   This “never know where my painting may be hung” arrangement confounded artists wanting to draw maximum attention to their art.  

Thus salons provided artists a few days prior to opening day to complete their work.   High/low hung paintings typically received more liberal dashes of bright colors to draw a viewer/buyer’s attention.   Absent this insight we would have been hopelessly lost as to why Turner was “one of the greatest painters of the last 150 years,” having passed half-finished paintings onto posterity.

Tour Guide Explaining Orpheus

Helen Gazing at Twombly's Untitled

Twombly’s abstract art, unfortunately, defied appreciation, despite liberal applications of insight and explanation.  Our first Twombly’s canvas entitled Orpheus solicited a whispered remark from Helen, “Our six year grandchild can do better.”  The mythic story depicted in the three canvas presentation of Hero and Leandro of lovers separated by the gods and a sea tempest was a captivating story, but the art would have been completely inscrutable without access to our guide’s decoder ring.  Later as Helen gazed at Twombly’s Untitled 2007 artwork, she murmured, “To heck with the grandkid.  I can do this!”

We also toured the museum’s permanent photo exhibit that held some gems, but provided little appeal in the portrait work, some delight in the scenic nature photos but none for photos of junkies shooting up.

Despite the lack of visceral appreciation for the art work, we were very grateful that we had a chance to tour the museum.  The visit added another connection we have with our new hometown of Stockholm.  It also gave us a chance to build another shared experience with our fellow American Club members.  

Based on recently received mail, we are now both official Club members.  The welcome letter continued that since we have been active volunteers, Helen on the newsletter, Jay on a history project, that our Kr. 500 (about $75) initiation fee was waived.  We plan to spend this windfall on art supplies….ha!