Miaz Brothers - Don't Look Now

24 NOVEMBER - 15 JANUARY 112 WESTBOURNE GROVE, W2 5RU

Don’t Look Now is a beguiling exhibition of portraits by the Italian artist-brothers, Renato and Roberto Miaz. At its core are a set of depictions of historical figures who overcame times of global or personal crisis to impact humanity for the better. The brothers’ overriding message – relevant in our own era of upheaval – is that everything will be alright.

The works are based on relatively well-known, existing portraits of each subject, but given the twist of the Miaz Brothers’ trademark blurring technique. Achieved by building up layers of aerosol paint – without ever using a brush or touching the canvas – this technique renders the subjects unfocussed yet at the same time uncannily familiar.

The historical figures portrayed in Don’t Look Now include Leonardo da Vinci, William Shakespeare and Rembrandt – all of whom proved, at different times and in different ways, that crisis can be the cradle of creativity.

According to the Miaz Brothers, ‘this show is a salute to those people who did great things in periods of turmoil, whether Shakespeare writing his plays through the plague or Leonardo showing genius across multiple disciplines after being arrested (and possibly going to prison) as a young man. They’re a reminder that, however bad a situation may seem, it’s important to keep hope’.