momentum at the barbican center is an ongoing show you might want to check out if you are in london. my hotel was 2 minutes away from the brutalist complex so momentum was my first work of art in london.
we stood in line to enter the curve and see the work of united visual artists.
please excuse the blurring in my pictures. it’s the best i could do under the circumstances. but you have a super clear video below to compensate.
they let in only a few people at the time. when our turn came, we entered the fully dark hall. we were hypnotized by the sequence of sound, light and movement. there are a series of 12 lighting pendulums suspended from the ceiling. their movements may differ but they were always coordinated. we walked on and we found ourselves surrounded by many people. they were hanging around in the dark, waiting to see the entire sequence of moves.
we did the same and we were swiftly submerged in the experience. the atmosphere is eerie, with a soundtrack of simple vibrations and the light sources moving in a choreographed balance. watch the video below for more than just words!
entry is free. the show opened on february the 13th and it will end on the 1st of june. click here for the opening hours.
ps: if you make it there, perhaps you want to check out the newly opened jean paul gaultier retrospective (9.04 – 25.08). i’ll try to see it myself soon. one of the biggest draws? the stripped eclairs in white and blue that mimic his favourite piece: the breton. they look delicious!
photo credits: little aesthete, barbican
video credits: united visual artists
