Lunchtime film screenings
Ming Wong: Dance of the sun on the water
- Friday, 23 January 2026
- Monday, 16 February 2026
- Friday, 13 March 2026
- Monday, 30 March 2026
Free
The film is approximately 20 minutes long and screenings take place at 1 and 1.30 pm.
Places are limited and available on a first come, first served basis.
Please arrive in good time to access the building and find the meeting place in the advertised room.
About
Saint Sebastian is a figure who has inspired artists across generations. A Roman soldier who secretly converted to Christianity, he was persecuted for his faith by being shot with arrows. There are 14 depictions of Saint Sebastian in the National Gallery’s collection, by artists from the Pollaiuolo brothers to Gerrit van Honthurst.
Our 2025 Artist in Residence, Ming Wong, continues this tradition with this new short film based on the story of his martyrdom.
Wong’s film, called ‘Dance of the sun on the water/Saltatio solis in aqua’, draws on paintings of Saint Sebastian and the landmark film ‘Sebastiane’ (1976) by British filmmaker Derek Jarman, setting the story inside the National Gallery itself.
Like Jarman, Wong brings together objects and ideas from different periods of history. The film features a variety of references from the Renaissance to the present to reimagine the life of this iconic saint.
Witty, experimental and visually exquisite, ‘Dance of the sun on the water/Saltatio solis in aqua’ powerfully asserts how stories of martyrs resonate today.
A series of screenings are also held across our Friday Lates programme.