• Plan your visit

    In Focus: Jane and Louise Wilson’s Sealander

    February 14–July 2, 2017

    Getty Center

    <em>Casemate SK667</em>, 2006, Jane and Louise Wilson; face-mounted chromogenic print. The J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles. Gift of Sir Mark Fehrs Haukohl through the generosity of Jane and Louise Wilson. © Jane and Louise Wilson 2006

    Casemate SK667, 2006, Jane and Louise Wilson; face-mounted chromogenic print. The J. Paul Getty Museum. Gift of Sir Mark Fehrs Haukohl through the generosity of Jane and Louise Wilson. © Jane and Louise Wilson 2006

  • <em>Casemate H667</em>, 2006, Jane and Louise Wilson; face-mounted chromogenic print. Courtesy of Gregory Keever. © Jane and Louise Wilson 2006

    Casemate H667, 2006, Jane and Louise Wilson; face-mounted chromogenic print. Courtesy of Gregory Keever. © Jane and Louise Wilson 2006

  • <em>Sea Eagle</em>, 2006, Jane and Louise Wilson; face-mounted chromogenic print. Courtesy of Sir Mark Fehrs Haukohl, Houston, Texas. From the Collection, “The European Woman of the 21<sup>st</sup> Century.” © Jane and Louise Wilson 2006

    Sea Eagle, 2006, Jane and Louise Wilson; face-mounted chromogenic print. Courtesy of Sir Mark Fehrs Haukohl, Houston, Texas, from the collection-, “The European Woman of the 21st Century.” © Jane and Louise Wilson 2006

  • <em>Noir Mont</em>, 2006, Jane and Louise Wilson; face-mounted chromogenic print. Courtesy Gregory Keever. © Jane and Louise Wilson 2006

    Noir Mont, 2006, Jane and Louise Wilson; face-mounted chromogenic print. Courtesy of Gregory Keever. © Jane and Louise Wilson 2006

In Focus: Jane and Louise Wilson’s Sealander

February 14–July 2, 2017, Getty Center

/ Plan your visit

British artists and twin sisters Jane and Louise Wilson utilize photography and other media to revisit locations associated with recent European history. Their 2006 series Sealander features bunkers erected by Hitler along the European Atlantic coast during World War II. Once symbols of strength and defense, the fortifications have long been abandoned. The Wilsons’ monumental photographs emphasize the alien character of these concrete structures against the rugged coastline; the series title refers to this transitional space between sea and land.

This exhibition is comprised of four large-scale photographs, including one that was donated to the Museum, as well as video documentation of the original Sealander presentation and other installation elements.

TALK

Artist Presentation: Jane and Louise Wilson

Jane and Louise Wilson create powerful, compelling photographs, videos, and installations that explore historical events and architectural spaces. Their Sealander series, on view in the exhibition, presents images of abandoned World War II bunkers along the Normandy coastline. The monumental scale and monochromatic palette of the photographs merge past and present, man-made and natural environment, land and sea. In this presentation, the Wilsons reflects on their current and past projects.

Thursday, April 20, 7:00 p.m.
Getty Center, Museum Lecture Hall

VIDEO



Documentation of video projection featured in 2006 Sealander installation

Originally presented at the New Art Gallery in Walsall, England and Haunch of Venison, Zurich, one of the components of Sealander was a three-projector video installation. The installation alternated footage of the Atlantic Ocean bunkers with that of the large-eyed vampire squid, drawing attention to manmade and natural mechanisms of defense.

Video documentation of Sealander courtesy of and © Jane and Louise Wilson 2006. Selected video supplied by Oxford Scientific Films/Getty Images

Audio

GALLERY TEXT

EXHIBITION CHECKLIST