Sky Arts Documentaries
Season 1
Sky Arts (formerly known as Artsworld) is an art-oriented television channel offering 24 hours a day of programmes dedicated to highbrow arts, including theatrical performances, movies, documentaries and music (such as opera performances and classical and jazz sessions).
Where to Watch Season 1
7 Episodes
- London RockE1
London RockMany of the new sounds of the 70s looked to the past for inspiration. Kenny Jones admits the Faces focused a lot on “where we grew up and used to play on bombs,” others looked even further back, drawing inspiration from mythology, legend and traditional songs. Following artists including T-Rex, the Faces, Fairport Convention and Matthew’s Southern Comfort, London Rock examines the personal nature of putting down a track. Charting a musical journey from the dawn solstice ceremony at Stonehenge, through lazy afternoons writing lyrics in the open air, to city life in Portobello Road, and the spirit of a sleepless music festival in Bath, it provides an insight into the new sounds that emerged in the Seventies, while examining the philosophy of its young musicians and their early thoughts on music and stardom. With additional music by The Who, King Crimson, Marc Bolan, Traffic and Jethro Tull, the musicians involved explain the influences they explored in their work. - Moog: The Man behind the SynthesizerE11
Moog: The Man behind the SynthesizerTo the uninitiated, Moog was the dog in the 80s cartoon series, Willo' the Wisp, but to those in the know, Dr Robert Moog was the maverick inventor and cult icon behind the eponymous synthesizer. This fascinating documentary explores Bob Moog's story in his own words. The advent of the synthesizer revolutionised music. An entirely new analogue instrument, it had electronic components but was made user-friendly by incorporating a traditional keyboard. Its influence was huge: Moog synthesizers were used by everyone from popular musicians like The Beatles and Stevie Wonder to jazz pioneers such as Herbie Hancock and Chick Corea. In this documentary, Bob Moog shares his ideas about creativity, design, interactivity, spirituality and of course, the invention that rocked the world. - Made In China: Copy ArtistsE13
Made In China: Copy ArtistsJohn Myatt narrates this insightful documentary about a village in China where an army of artists painstakingly reproduce the works of the great Masters, generating 35 million dollars a year. The Dafen Village, the ‘copy capital of the world’, is host to thousands of painters who supply the world with oil painting copies of European masterpieces by Renoir, Rembrandt, Matisse, Raphael and many more. - Glass NowE21
Glass NowGlass is a complex and alluring material: solid yet liquid, strong yet fragile, it reflects, refracts and absorbs light. These unique properties are being pushed to the limit by innovative artists in Britain today. Combining traditional techniques with cutting-edge technology, their creations include sculpture, architecture and installations. Glass Now offers an introduction to contemporary glass arts and profiles eight of Britains leading glass artists: Alexander Beleschenko, Katharine Coleman, Matthew Durran, Amber Hiscott, Angela Jarman, Helen Maurer, Colin Rennie and Koichiro Yamamoto. Short-listed for the prestigious Jerwood Applied Arts Prize 2003, these artists demonstrate the range, the excitement and the excellence of glass today. - Discovering Pink FloydE23
Discovering Pink FloydMusic critics and fans look back at the 30-year career of progressive rockers Pink Floyd, famed for their hugely successful concept albums and elaborate live shows. Founded in 1965, the band originally consisted of students Syd Barrett, Nick Mason, Roger Waters, and Richard Wright. They first gained popularity performing in London's underground music scene during the late 1960s, and under Barrett's creative leadership they released two charting singles and a successful debut album. David Gilmour joined as a fifth member in December 1967, and Barrett left the band in April 1968 due to his deteriorating mental health. After Barrett's departure, Waters became their primary songwriter and lyricist. Pink Floyd achieved critical and commercial success with the concept albums The Dark Side of the Moon (1973), Wish You Were Here (1975), Animals (1977), The Wall (1979) and The Final Cut (1983).