Bruno Millward
My exhibition explores the dynamic experiences of urban life , examining industrialisation and development , chaos , energy and evolution ; drawing inspiration from the bustling vitality and architectural contrasts of cities . This exploration of city life – both its vibrancy and its density – has been the driving force behind my artwork .
I centred my work on the use of industrial materials such as copper etching plates and wood , embedding the essence of urban construction into my creative process . The crowdedness of city life is represented through intricate and busy scenes in detailed etchings and expressive , vibrant paintings , capturing the intensity of modern urban spaces .
A key focus of my exhibition is the juxtaposition of old and new cityscapes , particularly the architecture of London , New York and Florence . I created a series of prints of the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore in Florence , using painted copper plates . This technique merged the grandeur of ancient architecture with the raw , modernistic qualities of industrial materials .
These ideas evolved into an immersive installation where images of the cathedral were projected onto walls , drawing parallels between the glowing lights of modern cities and the historic grandeur of Florence . This was also inspired by the graffiti and street art of New York , bringing rebellious , vibrant aesthetics of urban street culture . These methods extended to other works including a tiled photo of St Paul ’ s Cathedral , using copper etching plates , and a large-scale etching of Times Square , capturing its overwhelming energy and iconic urban sprawl . By incorporating industrial materials and processes , I sought to celebrate the architectural brilliance and beauty of cities while acknowledging the cold , metallic frames that define them .