Gooners bend backwards to snap selfies outside the Emirates. Their Millwall counterparts embrace outside The Den. People of all creeds and colour pass through the entrance to Mile End station, studiously ignoring the beggar and the confectioner. These three London street scenes from Ed Gray form part of a new exhibition at OXO Gallery.
Londonessence: Adoration shows a series of works inspired by 16th Century Renaissance paintings from the National Gallery. Some fun can be had comparing the modern-day works with the great masters. The Mile End scene is reminiscent of Bruegel's Adoration of the Kings. A stooping king proffering gold is de-transfigured into a youth checking his phone. The arches of Millwall's ground reflect the architecture behind Botticelli's version of the same tale, while the crowd outside Emirates resemble those in another Botticelli. The beauty is in the detail, so we urge you to get along to the South Bank this weekend to see these incredible paintings up close.
The paintings will be on show at the OXO Gallery until 28 September, 11am-6pm. Ed Gray will give guided talks on Saturday and Sunday at 11.30am and 3pm (free and no need to book). A further exhibition of Ed's work will show at GX Gallery in Denmark Hill from 10-26 October. Both venues offer £1 raffle tickets to win a framed Ed Gray print of your choice with proceeds in aid of Evelina Children’s Hospital.
See also: previous London work by Ed Gray
