a:Rize

a:Rize is a continuation of the cosplay series: an examination of the role of costume when considering identity and self determination. Cosplay is a portmanteau of costume and play and is a phenomenon based largely in both pop culture and alternative cultures. It can mean dressing up as Superman at comic conventions or as obscure literary figures to hang out with friends in a botanic garden or even creating one's own character within the cocoon of one's bedroom. The important thing seems to be to explore and find resonance with an identity and this grants a certain freedom. The agency to decide for a time who one is going to be completely free of the shackles of the everyday- it is very easy to draw the parallels to the costumed drama and abandon of Venetian Carnivale.

In this instance the cosplayer has chosen to portray Rize Kamishiro the antagonist from the Japanese manga and anime Tokyo Ghoul. In this particular incarnation she is Dragon Rize which is after the character has emerged from her chrysalis with white hair and the red markings on her face and body so the theme of metamorphosis is doubled within the painting- indeed it is also echoed by the stylised dragons included by the artist in the backdrop.

When the model Kazu (an Instagram moniker) sat for the artist there were still lockdowns across the country due to Covid. There had been cancellations of most major events so the sitting and choice of costume and makeup was all about the joy of exploration and entirely at the discretion of the model. From the artist's perspective it was all about letting go of the need for controlling art direction and rather responding directly to what the subject was projecting and reacting to that. The painting is about the process of becoming and who gets to decide that.

Rendered with oil paints in his typical high fidelity technique Tom has presented this work on canvas that has been gessoed and sanded multiple times to give a smooth and uniform surface to take the paint. The edges of the painting are also completely painted and the work is set in a complementary gold timber floating frame.

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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.