Confusing code words

Art duo Langlands & Bell are fascinated by acronyms: from non-governmental organisations to airport codes, they’ve been using them as repeated motifs in their work for the best part of two decades.

They also enjoy splicing up words, presumably in order that they may throw up interesting new angles or ways of seeing. Hence the title of this exhibition of new prints, neon sculptures and computer animation, which uses the acronyms of museums and art galleries from around the world.

The letters have been placed side by side or superimposed on photographs of museums. But since interminable lists of acronyms are extremely boring to ponder for any length of time, even if they are displayed in an attractive range of bright nursery colours, one inevitably starts to read the occasional skewed word: CAFKA (one might indeed start to feel like Joseph K trapped in a bureaucratic world of indecipherable codes) or, perhaps even more aptly, CAC.

The duo also recently unveiled Moving World (pictured) at Heathrow Terminal 5. The work features two six-metre semicircles of neon airport codes.

They could hardly have anticipated the name’s irony in light of the terminal’s opening fiasco – one can’t help but think that BA passengers deserved something a little more diverting in return for their patience.

Until May 10, Mon to Fri 10am to 5.30pm, Sat 10am to 1pm, free.

Langlands & Bell: A Muse Um
Alan Cristea Gallery
Cork Street, W1S 3NU