Episode 9

Synopsis

Andrew Graham-Dixon and Mark Kermode lock horns over the Cy Twombly exhibition at Tate Modern. Twombly is one of the most highly regarded artists in the world, whose highly distinctive style - scribbles and vibrantly daubed paint - has critics in raptures. To a lot of people though, Twombly's works look like scratchy doodlings on a canvas - the sort of thing a child could do. Can art critic Andrew persuade sceptical Mark to see any merit in these huge, baffling paintings?

Mark also talks to controversial theatre director Katie Mitchell, whose new play Some Trace of Her, opens at the National Theatre on July 30th. Focused on a murderous love triangle at the heart of Dostoevsky's The Idiot, this new production adopts an innovative visual style based around screens, cameras and live broadcasting of the dramatic action. Critics will either love or loathe it.

Paul Weller, the unlikely statesman of British music, drops by to talk about turning fifty and his acclaimed new album, 22 Dreams.

Credits

Presenter

Lauren Laverne

Presenter

Mark Kermode

Participant

Andrew Dixon

Broadcast

1. Tue 29 Jul 2008
   22:00
   BBC Two