Things to love about the new Whitworth
Published on 20 February 15
We really did fall back in love with the re-vamped Whitworth last weekend, as did around 18,000 others who visited the gallery over its opening weekend.
In case you’ve been living under a rock for the last couple of weeks, the Whitworth has undergone a £15 million transformation having shut its doors in 2013 and reopening them on Valentine ’s Day last weekend. The result is a 21st century gallery in the park, with a tonne of exciting new areas and exhibitions to discover, as History student Matt Burden discovered in a sneak preview last week.
If you haven’t been yet – we’ve put together a selection of things you must see, as picked by students and staff from the University and beyond.
Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell, President and Vice-Chancellor:
“What was most striking to me is the space and the light. I particularly loved the projection of our artworks on to the exterior wall of one of the new wings and the very dramatic ‘exploding shed’ by Cornelia Parker.”
Naomi Kashiwagi, Student Engagement Coordinator, The Whitworth:
“One of my highlights is Cai Guo-Qiang, Unmanned Nature. This is a poetically spectacular installation in our new landscape gallery. It’s an extraordinary 45metre-long drawing made with gun powder that is reflected in a large pool of water! I’m really excited that the Whitworth is now a 21st century gallery in the park, where the boundaries between indoors and outdoors are poetically illuminated, not only by the architecture, but also the exhibitions, collections, our learning programmes and events. We also have a new Collections Centre and Study Centre which are fantastic resources for students. The Whitworth is a great place for students to meet friends, see artworks, study socially and think about their studies in a different way. We have Student Social Wednesdays,3-5pm during term time, so the Whitworth can be a place to get their weekly dose of culture and is only 5 minutes away from Campus!”
Issy Cecil, Student, English Literature and American Studies:
“I love how it’s for local people in Manchester, but incorporates so many global artists. You’ve got English artists, but you’ve also got artists from all around the world which highlight all sorts of things, like American culture through the sixties or British culture through the poppies (in Cornelia Parker’s War Room).”
Caspar Stevens, Student Communications and Marketing:
“I’m a big fan of the new café. Being at the level it’s at and the walls of floor to ceiling glass windows, you really do feel like you’re outside in the park, sitting among the trees. It’s really cool to be able to see out into the park and see the world go-by while you catch some down time, and I spent a lot of time here last week while working on a video with Vicky from my team. Because of one of the Whitworth’s big claims to fame - being the first ‘English gallery in the park’ – it’s clear to see why this space is such an important part of the re-development and architecturally gives the gallery its real edge. They’ve also good some great food and coffee as well as some quality local beers to select from.”
Tuesday Knowles, Student, History of Art:
“You’ve got etchings next to sculpture and paintings next to installations – there's this amazing mixture. And that’s the difference I think (between the old and new gallery). I particularly love the way Thomas Schütter’s etchings are displayed and their variety of subject matter.”
Maria Balshaw, Director, The Whitworth:
"The two new wings (of the gallery) are like arms that embrace the green space around us. We’ve created an Art Garden that will be planting throughout the Spring and it will have sculpture in it. We’ve opened up the back so you can see right into the gallery. If you’re walking across the park at the moment, you can see Rodin’s Kiss, wrapped in a mile of string! It’s an extraordinary sight and we want to tempt people into the gallery."