The witching hour

As the festive period reaches its apex, we bring you good tidings and news of The Witching Hour, an ‘unsettling’ and ‘intimidating’ exhibition exploring the power of the built environment to frighten and forebode.

Richard Billingham - Untitled, from the series Black Country
Richard Billingham – Untitled, from the series Black Country

Inspired by buildings and architectural form in accessible community locations, images are captured through photography paintings and film.

Organisers say the exhibtion explores how buildings ‘can carry the weight of their own histories, sometimes becoming saddled with an affecting atmosphere due to events which have taken place within or around them.’

David Rowan - Pacha Kuti
David Rowan – Pacha Kuti

David Rowan - Abandon in Place
David Rowan – Abandon in Place

David Rowan investigates an abandoned newspaper factory and underground tunnels, while Richard Billingham looks at the Black Country, including a cemetery by night – a bleak and solitary playground for existential crisis, bound to bring on the heebie jeebies.

Toby de Silva - Jack (Catherine Eddows)
Toby de Silva – Jack (Catherine Eddows)

Toby De Silva’s series Jack looks at the would-be-innocuous locations of Whitechapel buildings tainted by the murderous hand of Jack The Ripper.

Graham Chorlton has painted unknown places which feel familiar, and Ravi Deepres’ HD film uses ancient camera obscura techniques, following figures around a dark smoke filled house to examine how paintings explore an instant in the context of a larger story.


David Rowan - Pacha Kuti
David Rowan – Pacha Kuti

Chris Keenan’s 9th Ward Scars will tell a poignant story of architectural destruction and retreat in 9th district New Orleans through the impact of Hurricane Katrina.

Idris Khan every...Bernd and Hilla Becher Spherical Type Gasholder
Idris Khan every…Bernd and Hilla Becher Spherical Type Gasholder

The Witching Hour: Darkness and the Architectural Uncanny runs from 21 January – 12 March at PM Gallery and Pitzhanger Manor, London W5.

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