Beyond Reality is a fantastic exhibition taking place at Opera Gallery London from 13th – 28th December. The show features a collective show of world-leading hyperrealist artists, including internationally acclaimed Marc Sijan, Tigran Tsitoghdzyan, John Humphreys, Yigal Ozeri, and Mike Dargas. From life-like sculptures to paintings that look like real photos, Beyond Reality features artworks that challenge the viewers, making them question whether what they are looking at is art or life.
A creature designer for Dr Who and sculptor for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Alexander, London-based John Humphreys is an expert in special effects and makes sculptures that are disturbingly close to life. He also created the Alien for Alien Autopsy, the black and white film that launched worldwide controversy around the “UFO incident” near Roswell (New Mexico) and inspired the TV series ‘The X-Files’.
Italian artist Valter Adam Casotto has been a prosthetic makeup artist for over 20 episodes of Games of Thrones, as well as Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (the Gringott goblins), The Hobbit (Bombur, Kili and several Orcs), Tale of Tales, and X-Men: First Class. He produces unflattering portraits and life-like creations that look so real they seem almost on the verge of movement.
Mark Sijan’s hyper-realistic sculptures of real people that are exceptionally natural. They are the result of dexterous and painstaking work, and focus on the overlooked, invisible figures in society (cleaners, butlers, security guards), as a tribute to real people.
World-renowned painters Tigran Tsitoghdzyan, Mike Dargas, Michael Moebius and Yigal Ozeri blend portraiture and hyperrealism, using their remarkable pictorial expertise to invite us to take a closer look. Meticulous trompe-l’oeil paintings of Nicolae Maniu and Lee Jung Woong, while rooted in hyperrealist practice, add a touch of Surrealism and humour, with hints to the artistic production of Salvador Dalí and Jackson Pollock.
Ahead of the press preview on December 13th, Federica Beretta, Deputy Director at Opera Gallery London, said: “We wanted to have a playful exhibition, with works that anyone can access and engage with. Beyond Reality will exhibit art by emerging artists as well as world-leading and acclaimed masters in the field. These days there seems to be a great appetite for skilful artists, who question the way we perceive art thanks to their unparalleled craft”.
