Art That Made Us

With the news daily reminding us that we are ruled by idiots, it’s good to get a regular reminder that our there are intelligent, creative people who can enrich our lives. The series Art That Made Us, in BBC iplayer, eight one-hour episodes isn’t a blockbuster or accompanied by rave reviews, but I think it’s brilliant. It works through the history of British art, obviously selecting and leaving whole chunks out, but what they give us is fascinating. Not the traditional genius offering their overview, but a battery of varied experts, from all kinds of angles, but always interesting. It’s brilliantly edited, so the pieces fit together, but in addition to the academics we get a battery of current art practitioners, responding to what’s going on with the enthusiasm of people who actually share that passion - “Man, can he paint!” one fan gasps in admiration. I’ve tackled it slowly, a bite at a time, but every time I watch an episode I feel better equipped to cope with the madness that surrounds us.