Oliver Beer

Exhibition overview

Bloomberg SPACE

Located on the ground floor of the London Mithraeum, Bloomberg SPACE showcases a series of contemporary art commissions responding, and bringing fresh perspectives, to the site’s rich archaeological history.

British artist Oliver Beer’s new installation Albion Waves, drew inspiration from the 14,000 Roman artefacts discovered on the Bloomberg site, and featured a constellation of 28 suspended historic British vessels. Dating from the second century to the present day, each vessel varied in colour, form, size, and origin, and contained a microphone to amplify its acoustic resonance. Triggered when motion sensors detect the movement of visitors, the installation was able to be played by the viewer, their interactions evolving into a unique immersive musical experience.

To accompany the sound installation, Beer created ‘Resonance Paintings’ using sound waves generated by the suspended vessels to move finely ground pigment into geometric patterns across canvas.

Beer unified the installation’s elements by bathing the space with blue light to create a captivating and immersive installation of sound, light and colour, providing a unique and innovative way for visitors to connect with the cultural and social evolution of Britain’s object making across the centuries.

“Just like a sea shell or a wine glass, every vessel that’s ever been made in the history of object making is also constantly quietly resonating at its own unchanging musical note, determined by its form. Albion Waves is an acoustic portrait of Britain over the past 2000 years – and a way to listen to, as well as see, successive waves of cultural influences in our material history.” Oliver Beer

Enhance your knowledge of the artwork by taking an audio tour with the artist or watching a video of his creative process on our free digital guide, Bloomberg Connects.

Oliver Beer
b. 1985, Kent

Beer’s work often exists at the meeting point of music and visual arts and this is reflected in his live performances, films, installations and sculptures, which reveal the hidden acoustic properties of vessels, bodies, and architectural environments. Beer’s work explores the unifying potential of music and art that resonates across history, generations and cultures, as embodied in objects and spaces.

Current exhibition:

Past exhibitions: