Fine art exhibition off Brick Lane

'Brave Soldier and Black Butterfly' raise money for charity

Up-and-coming artist Ali Miller is putting on a fine art exhibition, 'Brave Soldier and Black Butterfly', to commemorate and celebrate the life of her father, a former soldier and artist, who died of cancer in April 2008, just five months after his diagnosis. The exhibition will raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support and the North London Hospice. The private view will take place, 6pm - 9pm on February 26 at Bacon Street Project, off Brick Lane (nearest tube Liverpool Street) and the exhibition continues until March 1.

The exhibition, 'Brave Soldier and Black Butterfly', is Ali's representation of her father, the brave soldier, who served in the Israeli army during Israel's Six Day War and was incredibly strong and brave during his battle with cancer. The black butterfly represents Ali's sense of loss and hope, as her father's spirit and soul enters her.

Ali's father, Hanania Miller, was a talented artist himself – an award-winning photographer whose captivating, emotive and ground-breaking photography of life at war appeared in numerous publications including 'Time' and 'Life' magazines. Ali's work has been strongly influenced by her father's art and life, which can be seen by the exhibition she has put together.

The exhibition offers an intensely powerful narrative of Ali Miller's experiences during her father's cancer journey. On one hand it visualises her father's rapid deterioration, and the pain, suffering and loss that both he and Ali went through. On the other hand it portrays a sense of hope, as the artist's cathartic work is made to offer support to those who have suffered from cancer to connect with the pieces, giving them an emotional release, offering a sense of strength and optimism for the future.

The exhibition's showpiece displays are boxed assemblages created from personal objects from the family home, including her father's photographs, coat and magazines, decomposing flowers and religious objects. Ali's exhibition also contains paintings, screen printing and collage with her father's photographs, which are subverted and reinvented by her intimate and emotionally charged look at her father's life.

Ali Miller said: "The pieces show elements of his cancer journey but it also shows that my Dad's life, soul and spirit still live on in me and the world around me."

Ali's work is an amalgamation of personal experiences, family history, religion and identity and the relationship between the individual to the material. This is conveyed in Ali's design perspective, which is an unusual combination, creating artwork of remarkable intimacy and harmonious composition.

Ali, 29, who lives in Muswell Hill, has recently exhibited at the Truman Brewery and the Tricycle Theatre as well as various local north London spaces. She has worked in the creative departments of London's most prestigious department stores, including Fortnum and Mason, Harvey Nichols and Selfridges. She will be exhibiting at The Affordable Art Fair this coming March.

Rebecca Steadman, Fundraising Manager for Macmillan North London said: "This is a fantastic event which will raise funds and awareness for Macmillan Cancer Support. Our supporters are fundamental to our ambition to help all people affected by cancer and it has been a pleasure to support Ali with this project."

'Brave Soldier and Black Butterfly' takes place at Bacon Street Project, 14 Bacon Street, off Brick Lane, London E1 6LF. Tel: 020 7729 9800 or email mail@baconproject.com. For more information about the exhibition and the artist visit www.alimiller.co.uk