The Bauhaus is a concept I’ve heard about since studying art at the start of secondary school, but have never particularly understood. But with Pioneers: John Ruskin, William Morris and the Bauhaus now showing at the Millennium Gallery, it was a perfect opportunity to bridge the gap in my knowledge from so long ago.
Pioneers: John Ruskin, William Morris and the Bauhaus is a collection focusing on the works of the Bauhaus, the German arts school shut down in the 1930s by the Nazi Party of Germany. Ruskin and Morris both had key influences on the school and the works its students produced, which is explored in this exhibition, showcasing the varied art forms it specialised in, including carpentry, needlework and painting. The exhibition was split into four sections (Simplicity, Unity, Community and Craft), each exploring a key tenet of this widely revered art institution.
Whilst the themes regarding this exhibition are captivating, I struggled to truly get into this exhibition as a whole. There were individual works which I enjoyed, but the overall collection didn’t engage me as other exhibitions at the Millennium Gallery have before, but based on the number of people there on a wintry Sunday, I may be in the minority. Some pieces, however, defied this trend, specifically ‘The Potter’ by John Moyr Smith, which featured twelve tile panels depicting traditional manual trades. The workmanship on display here was simply stunning, and more pieces like this may help improve this collection for me.
Nevertheless, Pioneers: John Ruskin, William Morris and the Bauhaus failed to hold my attention like other exhibitions I have seen recently. The pieces were all indicative of amazing craftmanship but were not as inspiring to me as I had hoped going into the gallery.
Rating: ★★☆☆☆
Pioneers: John Ruskin, William Morris and the Bauhaus is on display in the Millennium Gallery until January 21st
