London Nights: explore the nocturnal side of London in new exhibition

Enjoy a dramatic, nocturnal study of the city at the Museum of London, as it presents its latest exhibition, London Nights. Fusing portraiture, documentary, conceptual photography and film, the show reveals the capital at night with over 200 photographs by 60 image makers on display, ranging from the late 19th century to the present day, some never seen before.

Shoreditch Wild Life, Dougie Wallace © Dougie Wallace

Shoreditch Wild Life, Dougie Wallace © Dougie Wallace

Featuring the work of renowned photographers Bill Brandt, Bob Collins, Brian Griffin, Tish Murtha, Tim Peake, Rut Blees Luxemburg, William Eckersley, Dougie Wallace and Nick Turpin alongside lesser-known artists, the exhibition explores the dreamy, threatening and shadowy world of London after the sun goes down.

"Over the years, our curatorial department has been fascinated by the city at night," says curator Anna Sparham. "It is, after all, a vast and dense theme with myriad possible directions to take an exhibition: sociologically, historically and artistically. While acknowledging these endless possibilities, London Nights explores the subject through the perspective of photographers.

"The exhibition engages with the specific attraction photographers have to the darkened urban environment. Photography, after all, depends upon light. Its presence or absence is an enticing challenge to the photographic medium.

"They keenly observe the aesthetic transformations that the city undertakes as it morphs from day into night. Some are attracted to the buzz of activity. Others are drawn to the quiet and still. Furthermore, many find that the imagination is unleashed after dark, just as Londoners are."

London Nights runs until 11 November 2018, with tickets from £10. The exhibition is open late every Friday evening. You can also book tickets for events, buy prints of the beautiful images on display, or pick up the exhibition book London Nights by Hoxton Mini Press/Museum of London.

'On the Night Bus no. 34', Nick Turpin © Nick Turpin

'On the Night Bus no. 34', Nick Turpin © Nick Turpin

'Trolleys in empty car park, CR0', William Eckersley © William Eckersley

'Trolleys in empty car park, CR0', William Eckersley © William Eckersley

'Song and Dance from the series London By Night', Image by Tish Murtha © Ella Murtha

'Song and Dance from the series London By Night', Image by Tish Murtha © Ella Murtha

'The West End at night', Bob Collins © Estate of Bob Collins

'The West End at night', Bob Collins © Estate of Bob Collins

'Somewhere in the Night from the Border series', Mitra Tabrizian © Mitra Tabrizian

'Somewhere in the Night from the Border series', Mitra Tabrizian © Mitra Tabrizian

'Mods on the street, Borehamwood', Terry Spencer © Cara Spencer

'Mods on the street, Borehamwood', Terry Spencer © Cara Spencer

'Trafalgar Square at Night', George Davison Reid © Museum of London

'Trafalgar Square at Night', George Davison Reid © Museum of London

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