Look at military life reveals a web of intrigue

Photographer Nick Waplington came to prominence in the early 1990s with images of friends, family and neighbours.

So his latest exhibition may come as a radical departure: images downloaded from the Internet, rather than photographs Waplington has taken himself, form the centrepiece of this three-part exhibition.

The images are of war zones and military bases taken by servicemen and women over the past 20 years. Afghanistan, Iraq, Israel, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia all feature, with nondescript landscapes, military campsites, snapshots of families, lovers and friends, and unsavoury images of fast food all appearing as a slide show presentation. A live feed from a US business radio station provides a jaunty, booming soundtrack.

At first the images might appear random, though loose thematic groupings emerge. The audio only occasionally resonates with meaning (such as when you hear an advert for cheap oil). The piece is a relentless 1 hour 40 minutes, and you can hardly be expected to sit through all of it. But what it does do is give a sense of both the dullness of life on a military base and the camaraderie of soldiers' lives.

In the foyer, you'll also find Waplington's ten books of similar downloaded images - but you might find it slightly more rewarding to follow the offsite trail of Waplington's own work located in nearby cafés and shops.

Until Jan 20, Whitechapel Art Gallery, Whitechapel High Street E1, Wed to Sun 11am to 6pm (Thu until 9pm), free. Tel: 020 7522 7888. www.whitechapel.org Tube: Aldgate East

Nick Waplington
Whitechapel Gallery
Whitechapel High Street, E1 7QX