Image: Piccadilly at Night © Bob Collins, 1960
The Museum of London, represented by AKA, explores London after dark in its new major photography exhibition, London Nights, which opened earlier this month and will run until 11 November 2018.
Using a unique fusion of historical, conceptual and contemporary imagery, nocturnal London will be explored like never before; from the evening commute, to the glittering club scene and the cities darker underbelly. The photography will reflect every corner of London from the brightly lit centre to the outer reaches of the city.
London Nights merges together over 200 pieces of work from some of the best photographers, both past and present, including Nick Turpin, Rut Blees Luxemburg, Tish Murtha, Bill Brandt and Alvin Langdon Coburn; drawing from the museum’s own extensive photographs collection and a number of significant loans.
London Nights delves into the dark through three sections:
London Illuminated
From the early 19th century to today, London Illuminated, explores the bright lights of the capital and reflects on how artificial light can transform the aesthetic of the city after dark.
Dark Matters
Traversing the capital’s unknown, Dark Matters sets foot into a world of darkness, and explores themes of threat and vulnerability, both real and imagined.
Switch on Switch Off
The final part of the exhibition, Switch On Switch Off, shows people interacting with the night, whether that be following commuters on their way home, to work and into the fast paced world of London’s nightlife.
In addition to the exhibition, the Museum of London will be hosting two free displays which explore the city after dark through the eyes of its residents.
Dark Corners, in collaboration with British Journal of Photography, exhibits winning entries from a competition revealing north, south, east, west and central London at night and from new perspectives. Night Visions explores nocturnal imagery by post-graduate photography students from London College of Communication and Royal College of Art
Anna Sparham, Curator of Photography at the Museum of London, said: “As the sun sets over London each night the mood changes as people head home, to work or off out on the town. Through powerful photography London Nights will explore everything from the twinkling lights and buzzing nightlife to the darker, more uncomfortable vulnerability that sometimes arises in the urban, or suburban night environment.”
The Museum of London will be open for late night viewings, every Friday. A range of programmed events relating to the exhibition is also taking place, including evening, weekday and weekend workshops and events.
