Mark Wallinger's 'Labyrinth' artworks for the London Underground

Labyrinth artwork at St Jame's Park underground

'Labyrinth', 2013, is a series of maze-like artworks by Mark Wallinger, each commissioned as a permanent addition to the walls or pillars of one of the 270 London Underground stations. Pictured is the artwork destined for St James's Park

(Image credit: press)

Commuters descending into the depths of the London Underground system will be greeted by a new series of Labyrinth-inspired artworks by Turner Prize-winner Mark Wallinger. But the artist isn't trying to induce claustrophobia. Look a little closer at each of the unique pieces - one for all 270 stations in the Underground's maze-like network - and you'll see that there are no dead-ends to his black and white journeys. Each one reaches its destination. It's as if he's saying: 'Don't panic - you'll get there in the end.'

Commissioned to mark the 150th anniversary of the London Underground - the artworks take an obvious visual cue from the tube map itself, designed in 1933. '[As a Londoner] the Harry Beck map does become mapped onto one's mind,' said Wallinger. His creations also bear distinctly cerebral forms. 'Each will act as a mental map, a representation of the orientation and contemplation which are the everyday experience of millions of Londoners.'

Born in Chigwell, Essex - connected to London by the giant red artery that is the Central Line - Wallinger was an apt choice for the Underground's biggest ever art commission. The Tube has been the basis of several of his works, including 'Angel', a video piece played in reverse, showing him walking backwards at Angel Station while reciting the opening lines of the Gospel of John. And the notion of a journey is a long-held preoccupation for the artist. 'I've got a thing for transport, and the act of being transported,' he says.

Wallinger's Labyrinth artworks are articulated in punchy black and white graphics, hand-printed by the same people who make the London Underground signage. 'I wanted to create works that used its heritage and graphic identity,' he told us.

The Underground's finely-honed graphic identity is largely the handiwork of Arts & Crafts calligrapher Edward Johnston, whose legendary typeface was introduced in 1916. Tasked to create something of 'bold simplicity', Johnston mixed a modern sensibility with classical Roman lettering, revolutionising type design across the world.

The Tube also has a long history as a public art gallery, with one of the earliest commissions being Harold Stabler's bronze sculptures on the Piccadilly Line's ventilation grilles in the 1930s. And in 2000, the Underground established Art on the Underground, aimed at enlivening the humdrum of Londoners' daily commutes. This has seen an impressive roll call of artists create pieces for its stations, including Cindy Sherman, Barbara Kruger, Liam Gillick, Sarah Morris and Gavin Turk.

Works from Wallinger's Labyrinth series have now been installed in 10 central London stations, with the rest reaching their destinations by summertime this year. Each will be a permanent addition to London's subterranean landscape.

Labyrinth artwork at Victoria Station — The works take an obvious cue from the Harry Beck-designed Underground map, with 'x' marking the 'you are here' spot. This particular work has found a home at Victoria Station

Labyrinth artwork at Green Park Station — Many of the artworks, such as this one for Green Park Station, take cerebral forms. Says Wallinger of his creations: 'Each will act as a mental map, a representation of the orientation and contemplation which are the everyday experience of millions of Londoners and their days spent on the Labyrinthine network'

Labyrinth artwork at Westminster Station — There are no dead-ends to the journeys through the Labyrinths, as seen from this piece for Westminster Station. The viewer always reaches their destination

Labyrinth artwork at Barker Street station — The artworks are articulated in punchy black and white graphics, hand-printed by the same people who make the London Underground signage. Passengers will spot this particular piece at Baker Street Station

Labyrinth artwork at Embankment station — This artwork for Embankment station almost feels hand-drawn

Labyrinth artwork at King's Cross station — ... while others, such as this one bound for King's Cross, are much more rigidly geometric

Labyrinth artwork at Oxford Circus station — The first ten of the artworks, including this one for Oxford Circus, have been unveiled. The rest will be installed by summertime this year

Labyrinth artwork at Bank station — Bank Station's artwork echoes the bullseye motif used in the Underground logo...

Labyrinth artwork at Tottenham Court Road Station — ... as does this piece for Tottenham Court Road Station

Underground artwork at Gloucester road station — Past commissions by Art on the Underground, the rail network's arts organisation (established in 2000), include 'Big Ben' by Sarah Morris, 2012, at Gloucester Road Station

Artwork at Stratford station — 'Who is Community? New Cinema Kiosk' by Bob and Roberta Smith and Tim Newton, 2012, at Stratford station

Wrapper artwork at Edgware road station — 'Wrapper' by Jacqueline Poncelet, 2012, at Edgware Road Station

Tube wrap artwork on Piccadilly train — 'Tube Wrap' by Jim Isermann, 2007, on a Piccadilly line train

Artwork at Gloucester road station — 'Peace and Love' by Beatriz Milhazes, 2005, at Gloucester Road Station

Malaika Byng is an editor, writer and consultant covering everything from architecture, design and ecology to art and craft. She was online editor for Wallpaper* magazine for three years and more recently editor of Crafts magazine, until she decided to go freelance in 2022. Based in London, she now writes for the Financial Times, Metropolis, Kinfolk and The Plant, among others.