Demon Slayer 2020

This painting was made just after the first time the city of Adelaide emerged from Lockdown during the Coronavirus outbreak of 2020. People tentatively began to reconnect including the Cosplay community although with some restrictions imposed, including the wearing of masks. Cosplay or costume play is a unique subculture where young people dress up as characters from popular culture, movies, comics, video games, books or even something of their own concoction. It enjoys a unique space with utter freedom of expression to explore many of the themes related to one's own identity without judgement or censure.

In this instance we see the Cosplayer identified by their Instagram nom de plume 'fallen_soldier09' dressed as the character Nezuko from the Japanese animation Demon Slayer. There is a duality here for the character of Nezuko is infected by a demonic curse and she wears her own mask to protect others as she and her brother go travelling in search of a cure. The parallels cannot be ignored.
During 2020 and 2021 the world has come to terms with the wearing of masks that obscure the face, however cosplay has provided the opportunity for these artists to demonstrate their unique self expression and identity. Yet Lockdowns across Australia and the world have left many young people feeling isolated where normally they would gather to share their often theatrical costumes and take pictures. So there is an ennui here in this painting that looks for the return of conventions and travel and reconnecting with a broader community in much the same way as the chosen character looks to return to humanity.

This high fidelity painting is presented in oils on a specially prepared polyester/canvas blend. The surface has been gessoed and sanded multiple times by the artist to render a smooth regular surface before being painted in his trademark hand. It has been finished with a broad dark timber frame and a natural oak slip to accent and compliment the work. It is strung with a wire and ready to hang.

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Born and raised in Adelaide Tom came to painting after a rich and eclectic tapestry of life experiences and now makes high fidelity works focused on asking questions.

With a background in health sciences as well as architecture and design Tom's paintings are deeply rooted in the notion of critical thinking and the forging of human identity. Concepts of community versus individuality permeate the work as well as complexity versus minimalism.

The use of realism in traditional oil paints gives pause to the rapid consumptive nature of the modern digital image. They ask the viewer to rest a while, observe and let the painting take one's thoughts where it will. The works do not regale with a bombastic answer but rather sequester time for a deeper question.

He has been a semi-finalist in the Doug Moran National Portrait Prize in 2016, 2019 and again in 2022. He was the winner of the Kennedy Art Prize People's Choice Award 2021 and 2023. He was a Bluethumb Art Prize Finalist in 2022 as well as a Finalist in the Darling Portrait Prize 2022 at the National Portrait Gallery, Canberra.

Since 2013 Tom has been involved in the acclaimed pop-up fine art workshop school The Art Academy in Adelaide run by internationally renowned artist Robin Eley. Working first as a technical assistant and later as an instructor Tom has continued the never-ending journey of refining his craft and sharing that passion with others; for a lesson in painting is a lesson in thinking and continues to be to this day.