Russel Morris, wrote on January 26, 2018:

‘20:50- an art installation by Richard Wilson'; by Jaiya Marns-Morris

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‘20:50- an art installation by Richard Wilson'; by Jaiya Marns-Morris

20:50 is an art installation created by Richard Wilson in 1987. It is now housed in Tasmania in the Museum of Old and New Art, also called MONA.

Richard Wilson is a 64 year old sculptor, installation artist and musician. He was born in Islington, London and was later educated at Hornsey College of Art, London College of Printing and Reading University.

In 1987 Wilson first exhibited 20:50 at Matt’s Gallery, London. Later on he reinstalled it in The Saatchi Gallery where Charles Saatchi exhibited it for many years. David Walsh, owner of MONA, then paid for 20:50 to go on a world tour before, after a few years, it was installed at MONA.

20:50 at MONA is built out of sump oil and steel. The oil fills the whole room with one narrow viewing path that goes straight into the center. The oil is about waist deep but you cannot tell the depth from looking at the surface. From above, it’s an optical illusion. It looks like another level to the building, but really, it’s the reflection of the ceiling above you.

Richard Wilson made 20:50 more as an experiment then an actual piece of art. He had spent the summer around a pool and he soon became fascinated with the reflections and optical illusions of the pool. With an exhibition due and an old can of oil, Wilson set to work flooding the space. He chose sump engine oil because its not see through like other oils.

20:50 is simply an awesome piece of art. The optical illusions and reflections into the still oil is amazing. 20:50 has become famous, for good reason.