David Piddock: Urban Myths II: Gallery 8, 8 Duke Street, St. James, London SW1Y 6BN

David Piddock walks his viewer through many miles of London’s buildings, unfolding a map of rich architectural variety, both high and low rise. Flying, falling and dancing through this man-made geometry, painted with exquisite precision, is his cast of mythical characters:
Cupid and Psyche, Venus, Apollo and Daphne. As if escaped from Old Master paintings, they bring high drama to the urban order.

Wandering around London, Piddock sources constructed panoramas for his paintings, from recognisable towers and DLR stations to lesser-known corners of the city. Within these scenes, defined by sharp perspective, strong shadows and diagonals, he positions quiet
people who read the paper or stare at their phone, impassive and oblivious to the great mythical action unfolding around them.