Jane & Louise Wilson

This artwork is part of Ways of Seeing, a partnership between Waltham Forest London Borough of Culture 2019 and the Government Art Collection. Ways of Seeing turns the borough into a gallery with 33 internationally renowned artists displayed in 28 unexpected locations.

Jane and Louise Wilson are identical twins. They are known for creating haunting art using film, photography and sound. Their work often explores places with dark and complex histories. These have included an East German prison, a missile base and Chernobyl, the site of a catastrophic nuclear accident. 
 
Safe Light, Reflected Ballroom is from a series of photographs taken in a factory in North East England. Could the image be a ballroom as the title suggests, or is it more like a sterile medical laboratory, or even a hospital theatre?
 
The photograph is flooded with yellow light, making it even more eerie. You might think yellow is a happy colour, but psychological studies have shown that it can create feelings of frustration and anger. 
 
Jane and Louise Wilson were born in Newcastle. They studied art at different universities but submitted identical degree shows. They have worked together ever since, creating videos, photography, installations and theatrical set designs. They were shortlisted for the Turner Prize in 1999 and became Royal Academicians in 2018.

The artwork on display in this venue is available to view on specific dates only. Please sign up to our newsletter or follow our social media channels to be the first to find out when you can view it. 

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Appointment only between 4.30 - 6pm. Thursday 23 May / 6th, 13th, 20th, 27th June / 4th, 11th July. Call 020 8509 9446 to book