Rasheed Araeen has created a free programme of art-inspired activities for families during the school holidays that involves creating and recreating art, lunch and conversation, writes Michael Holland.
Uniqlo Tate Play is based in the Turbine Hall where, on the ground floor, Zero to Infinity allows children of all ages to create shapes and structures with the lattice cubes. From the mezzanine floor, you can watch the younger participants working out their own personal architectural problems or the logistics of getting more cubes into and onto their structures.
The more time you spend there looking at the non-stop activity the more you see that the art is infinite, it never stops moving but changes and evolves.
On the mezzanine is another space that follows the red, yellow, and green colour scheme, where families can sit and engage in a number of art activities. This was more paper-based and seemed to be for the very young.
Outside, by the river, is Shamiyaana IV (Food For Thought: Thought For Change). Here the artist has constructed gazebos that continue the coloured cube scheme and look like any pop-up eatery but is an art installation for people to eat and chat with whoever is on the communal table you sit at.
Shamiyaana is based on tents used for weddings across parts of Asia, where the guests are greeted and given food.
I sat with a couple who originally hailed from Downham but now live in Kent, who were out with their two grandsons. Over samosa, pakora, lamb kebabs, chutney and salad we discussed theatre, art, GCSEs, public transport and getting the Tories out of government and into jail for some of them. And it was all free and all in the name of art. All you have to do is book your time slot.
Turbine Hall, Tate Modern, Bankside, London SE1 9TG until 28th August.
Open daily 10.00–18.00
Shamiyaana: Food for Thought: Thought for Change: Free with a pre-booked ticket via tate.org.uk
Photos: M. Holland
