Peter Doig: House of Music
Serpentine South, Kensington Gardens, London W2 3XA
10 October 2025 – 8 February 2026
The House of Music integrates some recent Doig paintings with sound. Central to this is project is an original Western Electric/Bell Labs sound system and two sets of large restored analogue speakers, originally designed for cinemas and large auditoriums, salvaged by cinematic sound system expert Laurence Passera. Doig has selected the music from his collection of vinyl and cassettes. The music is ubiquitous and an integral part of the experience.
Referring to his years in Trinidad; 2002-21, there are four areas of the exhibition. The North Gallery houses the huge apparatus of the sound system and three large paintings featuring the Lion of Judah, an important Rastafarian symbol, wandering around various locations. The East Gallery is a lounge area with subdued lighting, where you can view ‘Music of the Future’, from club chairs. You will find the ‘Shadow’ portrait of musician Winston Bailey there, the title ‘House of Music’ references his lyrics. The West Gallery has café tables and chairs where you can contemplate, amongst other paintings, Lion in the Road, 2015, Oil, distemper on linen. 200 x 276 cm. Doig’s paintings, which are often derived from photos, have surprising abstract surfaces, they can buzz with colour: they can be deep, odd, light and dark, and disturbing, but most of all absorbing.Â
Painting for Wall Painters (Prosperity P.o.S.), 2010-12, distemper on linen, 240 x 360 cm. Installation East gallery.
Fall in New York (Central Park), 2002 – 2011, oil on linen, 120.5 x 98 cm.Â
Peter Doig.
Installation East gallery, KLANGFILM EURONOR JUNIOR SPEAKER, CA, 1950s.Â
Speaker/Girl, 2015, Oil on linen, 25 x 199.5 cm.
Shadow, 2019, dispersion on linen, 130 x 80 cm.
Installation North Gallery.
