Imagine a space in the heart of London’s financial district, hidden in the shadow of skyscrapers, directly above an ancient temple—where time both stands still and intertwines. This week on Apartment No: 26’s art route, there’s a monumental stop where archaeology, memory, and fiction intertwine.
London Mithraeum Bloomberg SPACE is preparing to present Dutch artist Mark Manders’ site-specific new installation, the exhibition “Room with All Existing Words.” Opening on January 22, 2026, the show brings ancient Roman ruins and contemporary art into a captivating dialogue.
For over thirty years, Mark Manders has been developing a vast fictional world that he describes as a “self-portrait as a building.” His works stand in an uncanny space between ancient relics freshly unearthed in an archaeological dig and fresh pieces left unfinished in the artist’s studio.
What awaits us in “Room with All Existing Words”?
The Ambiguity of Time: The bronze and clay forms Manders uses in his sculptures evoke a frozen construction process. The works feel both timeless and as if they are “not yet finished.”
Monumental Heads: At the center of the exhibition, a massive human head sculpture draws the viewer into an atmosphere reminiscent of encountering an ancient relic.
Fragments of Language: Manders incorporates fragments from newspapers he has invented and texts painted over in his installations, questioning how history is constructed and meaning derived from fragments.
Dialogue with the Ancient Temple: From A.D. 240 to 2026
The exhibition is located directly above the Temple of Mithras (London Mithraeum), dating to A.D. 240, beneath Bloomberg’s European headquarters. In a space displaying real Roman artifacts unearthed during excavations, Manders’ fictional “relics” remind us that history is a narrative constantly being rewritten.
Manders’ work leaves a powerful echo in the temple’s mysterious atmosphere, leaving the viewer grappling with questions: “What has been preserved, what has been lost, and what still remains unresolved?”
Discovering Manders’ silent and enigmatic world amid the layers of history in the heart of London promises to be one of the most impactful art experiences of 2026.
