Tate Winter Commission 2020: Chila Burman
Since December 2017, Tate has commissioned a winter installation to illuminate their riverside entrance. For 2020 they timed the unveiling to coincide with Diwali and the artist is Chila Kumari Singh Burman.
If you remember the weird (and I think wonderful) slugs by Monster Chetwynd from 2018, then you’ll know that the Winter Commission is very rarely you’re standard twinkly Christmas lights.
“Remembering a Brave New World” is packed with symbols of Hindu mythology, references to colonialism but also personal memories, like Chila’s family ice-cream truck.
Born in Liverpool, the neon lights are also a reference to Chila’s childhood visits to Blackpool illuminations. The neon installation certainly captures their over-the-top brilliance!
Diwali is a celebration of new beginnings and so I’d challenge anyone to not feel uplifted and hopeful after soaking up this wonderful installation.
Here’s what it looks like at night…
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You can see it for free anytime until 31 January 2021. The closest station to Tate Britain is Pimlico.
What do you think?
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