The Burrell Collection, closed in 2016 for expansion and renovations, is now open again. I just visited Glasgow and headed for it, my favorite place in the city.
First the good news:
This Ming Luohan who has been sitting cross legged since he was carved in China in 1484 and who has done likewise at the Burrell since its opening in 1983, remains the centerpiece of the much loved glass- walled highlights gallery were the backdrop for the works on view is grass, wild flowers and trees.
More space has been opened up above and below the main floor. Almost twice as many art works are on view. The velvet rope is gone; we can walk into the recreation of a grand room in Hutton Castle the home of Sir William Burrell (1861-1958) and housed his collection of some 9,000 works from ancient art to the late 19th century; from Chine to Europe.
The shop is imaginatively stocked; downstairs and with a tall glass wall of its own, was busy. (Near the entrance there is space for thsoe who just want tea, coffee, scones. The upstairs galleries focus on materials and craft: lace making, stone carving and such. Newly accessible below, is a special exhibition space and the collection store.
Even this is the good news only relatively. For example: In the recreation of a room at Hutton Castle, we find jerky films pretending to be candid glimpses of Sir William at home. Phooey. And that is only the beginning of the "reimagining" of the Burrell. Its transformation from an art museum to a building that is intended to be a heart warming, fun day out.
The art is there to tell its own story.
If only it were left alone to do so.
Instead the collection has been rehung according to themes; themes suitable for kiddies. One room is Animals; another Gardens, a third is called Flowers. In Flowers, for example, anything with one or a bunch is put together whatever the period, material, conception. And to make it still more attractive--and muddled-on one large flower filled wall a looped video provided an unending cascade of falling petals. So pretty...so maddening.
How did we get here? A place where this great museum and too many others are now run people who have no feeling for, who act as if they are afraid of it and what harm it might do. So I end with this image of a chess piece from Sir William's collection.
Off With Their Heads!!!! But honestly, it's only a lump of bone.
