Duo show by Jessica Assmann- Zwaanswijk (NL) and Piet Zwaanswijk (NL).

The meaning of the word “brutal” can be interpreted in many ways and invokes just as many emotions. From applying paint to a canvas, cutting up previously published pieces, over architecture and reaching to the way people treat each other - “Brutal” is intrinsically, linguistically and even personally polysemous.

In this exhibition, we present two artists taking this word literally. Both have been working artists for many decades; having opened galleries in Haarlem, NL as well as experimenting with various methods, techniques and inspiration for their work.

“Quasi Brutality” presents a concentrated exhibition of their works. Jessica shows realistic paintings of concrete “brutal” buildings around the world while Piet displays multimedia collages inspired by a book depicting “A collection of German police uniforms and how they should be worn”.

This is exhibit is a result of the lockdown. As many people spent 2020 with more time viewing art online than in real life, connections were made. Curator Verity Oberg first noticed Jessicas artworks on the social media group “Brutalism Appreciation Society”. The lockdown has also created an abundance of works from artists dealing with their own and their fellow people’s struggles that have come to the surface during the lockdown and what has happened both personally and politically during the past few years. This exhibition takes these unique, yet universal perspectives and emotions into a visual space.