By Eddie Kämpgen
It was a lovely and warm day for the beginning of April; the kind of day that makes you want to be out and about. On my tutor recommendation I decided to visit Tate Modern, a place I have always heard about but never really explored deeply. I am not an art critic—just a NAIVE (name commonly used for people who do not know art), I am just a person who loves to understand where artists find inspiration in unexpected places. And what I saw at the "In the Studio" display left me with a mix of feelings, but one moment stood out above all.
The "In the Studio" display is on the second floor of the Natalie Bell Building, part of Tate Modern’s permanent collection. It is free to visit, which I think is wonderful. Although lots of government money goes into places like this, I believe it is so important to have a space like Tate Modern where anyone can walk in and experience art without paying a penny. The display focuses on how artists work and how we, as viewers, connect with their creations. There were works by artists like Francesca Woodman and Joan Mitchell, but one piece—and one moment—stole my attention.
I saw a girl sitting on a bench, sketching in her notebook. She was drawing a caricature of Meraud Guevara’s Seated Woman with Small Dog, c.1939 (Tate, © Estate of Meraud Guevara). To me, this was the most relevant art I saw that day. The painting itself shows a woman sitting in a room with a small dog on her lap, a staircase in the background, and a quiet, almost mysterious vibe. But the girl’s sketch turned it into something playful—a satiric of the original, especially the Eyebrows. I loved how she captured the scene with her own twist, adding a bit of humour to the serious tone of Guevara’s work. Not sure if it was her intention but it felt alive, like art breathing through her pen. Here is a photo I took of her drawing:
That said, I must admit the surname Guevara gave me a strange feeling, "repudiation." To me, it reminds me of communism, and that does not bring a good feeling. I know it is not fair to judge an artist by their name, but I could not shake the association. Still, the girl’s caricature made me smile and think about how art can be reimagined in such a personal way.
The rest of the display was interesting, with abstract pieces and studio depictions, but nothing hit me quite like that moment. Walking through the 14 studios, curated by people like Valentine Umansky and Michelle Welled, I felt inspired by the idea of creativity in action. Tate Modern is a treasure for that—it is a place where art is not just on the walls but in the people who visit. I left feeling grateful for the experience, the warm April sun, and the unexpected spark of a girl’s sketch.
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