Architecture of War

de bene esse: literally, of well-being, morally acceptable but subject to future validation or exception 

'View Overlooking London', by George Kenner, 1915 © The artist’s estate

 

About the exhibition

Oil paintings, prints, sketches, drawings, watercolours and photographs by artists such as William Orpen, Ronald Searle, William Scott, and Langlands and Bell will be on display at the newly reopened IWM London this month, highlighting artists’ responses to the impact of warfare on landscape and environments.
The paintings are displayed thematically rather than chronologically, and encompass a wide range of works dating from the First World War to the present day, revealing the importance of industry in times of conflict, as well as the devastation of warfare itself.
The exhibition is brought up to date with works that depict the architecture of more recent conflicts – from Paul Hogarth’s 1981 drawing of the Berlin Wall, to Paul Seawright’s photograph of deserted Taliban barracks.

Architecture of War is on show at IWM London (Imperial War Museums) from 29 July–5 May 2014 and admission is free. Find out more at the IWM website

Gallery