LCL/ God's In His Heaven, All's Right With the World

A full body portrait of cosplayer @zio_cos as Rei Ayanami (the First Child) from Neon Genesis Evangelion.

From the artist:

'Evangelion is one of my favourite Anime series which I collected back in the early 2000s. It gives me a thrill to find young people discovering it today on Netflix. However 'back in my day' I watched it on video cassette- in fact the textured background is made up of the stacked up VHS covers from my own collection. It is a series that progresses into a dark psychological melodrama and explores themes personal identity, the hubris of seeking perfection versus the flawed physical reality.

'For the model Zio who deals with a reality of chronic illness, and disability with endometriosis, the outward perfection of the costume belies the inner truth of feeling betrayed by one's own body...something I've tried to reflect in the blood red of the background including the NERV logo which arises like angel wings behind her.

'The character of Rei is often described in the series as the perfect doll, the First Child who ultimately seeks emancipation from her 'role'. She is born from a pool of LCL, a lake of blood like substance supposed to be the blood of Lilith from ancient Hebrew mythology. The LCL in the series also doubles as a breathable liquid that fills the cockpits of the Evangelion robots, immersing the pilots in a womb-like environment emphasising that connection to blood and birth.

'Finally the NERV logo includes the line from Robert Browning's poetic prose Pippa Passes: "God's in His Heaven, All's right with the World." It is a nod to the hubris of man and a certain naiveté to the reality of existence. The truth that comes to light at the end of the series is the humanity is flawed, but seeking perfection does not equal progression. Progress is achieved by seeking acceptance and understanding of the awkward and uncomfortable and making a place for everyone.'

This work is painted on a canvas surface that has been gessoed and sanded multiple times to render a smooth and regular substrate. The painting wraps the edges of the piece to create a complete object that is set in a floating black timber 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.