Oh Beautiful World! is an astonishing artwork made for Reading Museum by Eleanor Lakelin, with the support of the Contemporary Art Society’s Rapid Response Fund in partnership with Frieze London.
The sculpture commemorates the legacy of Oscar Wilde in Reading. Wilde was imprisoned in Reading Gaol from 1895 to 1897. The sculpture was produced from the burr wood of horse chestnut trees that once rooted beneath the Gaol's walls.
Oh Beautiful World! was installed in Reading Museum in December 2020, but was unavailable for visitors to see due to the Museum's closure during the COVID-19 pandemic, however the Museum reopened on 18 May 2021.
In this online exhibition, you can discover Oh Beautiful World! from the comfort of your own home. Read our blog about the story behind the piece. Try your hand at our arts and crafts pack. Viewing the sculpture up close in our new 3D model. Or make a beautiful world of your own, and take a look at the collages made so far.
