Propter Nuptias

For all those who predicted the death of painting and the public's impending exhaustion of the genre, this exhibition is a door slammed in their face. Artists Rai Escalé and Miloš Kopták have worked together on this collection under the single name of Miroir Noir.

As if they were 18th-century landscape painters, they decided to turn their backs on reality and set their sights on their own dark mirror, which, on this occasion, reflects some fairly disturbing images. 'Propter Nuptias' (Latin for 'For the Wedding') feature grooms with deformed faces and zombie-like bridesmaids. All the portraits are naturally arranged on a grungy background, highlighting the anguish of the blank stares and grotesque smiles. It's a strong showing of painting without complexes: strokes that seem to violently penetrate the nervous system, create rictus in decomposition, and give shape to disfigured faces. You may have guessed that the characters in this story, made of Baconian strokes somewhere between Barcelona and Bratislava, will not live happily ever after.