Reviewing: Giacometti

This is the second Giacometti exhibition in London of late - the NPG's 'Pure Presence' show fell in the 2015/16 season and was very well received - so there is clearly an appetite for his work in the capital.
Of this exhibition, the Tate Modern say:

Celebrated as a sculptor, painter and draughtsman, Giacometti’s distinctive elongated figures are some of the most instantly recognisable works of modern art. This exhibition reasserts Giacometti’s place alongside the likes of Matisse, Picasso and Degas as one of the great painter-sculptors of the twentieth century. Through unparalleled access to the extraordinary collection and archive of the Fondation Alberto et Annette Giacometti, Paris, Tate Modern’s ambitious and wide-ranging exhibition brings together over 250 works. It includes rarely seen plasters and drawings which have never been exhibited before and showcases the full evolution of Giacometti’s career across five decades, from early works such as Head of a Woman [Flora Mayo] 1926 to iconic bronze sculptures such as Walking Man I 1960.

As the description explains, this exhibition works in broader strokes than the showing at the NPG, and as such gives a much more well-rounded view of the artist. You get to see his sketches, paintings and, of course, his sculpture.

His sketches and paintings are beguiling and complex, holding your attention as you try and figure out exactly what is being said, but, for me, it is the sculptural work where Giacometti's magic is most evident. He completed pieces on a tiny scale, whilst also producing huge works that tower over the spectator. His unique visual signature is said to explore the figure in the post-war era, everything irrelevant stripped away, but whatever is going on, the nature of his work is just mesmerising.

It is the first time a London audience has had the opportunity to see so much of Giacometti's work in one place, and it really gives you the opportunity to see his style and thinking evolve over time. The final encounter with his huge figurative work sends you out of the exhibition with a sense of his phenomenal talent and huge influence on the art world.

I thoroughly enjoyed the whole exhibition, and definitely recommend it. It is very rare for you to get such a detailed insight into a true master.

4/5: A powerful exploration of a life in art
Tate Modern
Until 10th September