Langlands & Bell

Langlands & Bell is an artistic duo, comprising Ben Langlands (born in London in 1955) and Nikki Bell (born in London in 1959). They started working together in 1978.

Langlands & Bell's Art Practice and Style

Langlands & Bell explore the intricate connections between people and architecture, as well as the coded systems of circulation and exchange within our society and across various cultures. Their works span various mediums, including film, video, digital media projects, sculpture, installations, prints, and full-scale architecture.

Their focus lies on exploring the intricate connections between individuals and architecture, as well as the broader global dynamics of coded systems in mass communication and exchange, essential for navigating our rapidly evolving technological landscape.

In 1978, they presented their first collaborative work titled "The Kitchen," which featured two adjacent kitchens—one designed by Langlands and the other by Bell.

By the mid-1980s, they gained recognition for crafting monochromatic sculptures and reliefs, frequently resembling furniture or architectural models. Their approach was characterized by an analytical and almost archaeological exploration of architectural and design typologies, delving into human relationships spanning personal, cultural, economic, and political dimensions.

In 2002, Langlands & Bell spent two weeks in Afghanistan exploring the aftermath of twenty-first-century warfare. Their resulting body of work, exhibited as "The House of Osama Bin Laden" at the Imperial War Museum in London, was shortlisted for the Turner Prize in 2003 and won the BAFTA Award for Interactive Art Installation in 2004.

Langlands & Bell's largest artwork to date is the 2004 Paddington Basin Bridge, a collaboration with Atelier One (structural engineers). This impressive piece is an 8-meter high and 45-meter-long pedestrian bridge crafted from white metal and glass.

Exhibitions of Langlands & Bell's Works

Langlands & Bell have showcased their work extensively on the global stage since the early 1980s. Their works have been included in numerous exhibitions, including "Langlands & Bell: Ideas of Utopia; Absent Artists; Ideas of Utopia" at Charleston in East Sussex (2022), "The Past is Never Dead" at Gallery 1957 in Accra (2021), "Langlands & Bell: Degrees of Truth" at Sir John Soane's Museum in London (2020), "The Aerodrome" at Ikon Gallery in Birmingham (2019), and many more.

Langlands & Bell's works have also found a permanent home in various public collections worldwide, including Helsinki City Art Museum, Norwegian National Museum of Contemporary Art, Henry Moore Institute, and Saatchi Collection.