Thomas Hjelm

A bull's skull is equally alluring and horrifying in its reality; in wider culture it also symbolises both prosperity and death. Hjelm is fascinated by the metaphorical aesthetic qualities of destruction, and the emotive nature of allegory. The title of this work was taken from the Elvis Presley song, where the male falls in love with his own demise.

HAVE YOU BEEN FEELING IT TOO is the embodiment of frustration and angst taking influence from billboards that have been torn off their postings. The imagery is glossy and slick, as it is pulled back to reveal a decaying underbelly, befitting of the destructive gesture.

Hold Me Closer is a response to the sentiments that many have felt in the past year. The coping mechanisms we've adopted and the deep desire to connect with those dear to us beyond the screen. The surface of the canvas has started to breakdown alluding to the structures we had all previously taken for granted, and the break from the norm which has forced a state of self reflection.

Hjelm typically uses canvas sizes that are proportional to the scanner's glass. In REFRESHING, the work is built-up through numerous layers both digitally and physically by adding, stripping back, and repeating.

With each layer the work takes on a new meaning with scant reference to its previous iteration. Similar to the experience of burrowing into a Youtube worm hole, where the page is constantly refreshes and one begins to question where they started.

All you ever wanted or all you want is maybe not what you need. Using the notion of the eroded billboard, which gives evidence of its bygone incarnations, BITE ME references the idea that "happiness is a moment before you need more happiness." (Madmen)

A constant hunt for the next serotonin fix and the inevitable realisation that previous desires were largely superficial.

A close friend of mine has an amazing talent for losing and breaking phones. This is by all reasonable standards irresponsible and problematic; however I know it to be true, that he likes being uncontactable. A literal breakdown in communication. I know I'm guilty of spending too much time looking at screens, and found it very cathartic smashing this one.

SOMETHING INTANGIBLE TO HOLD ON TO was created for an exhibition Hjelm curated with 4 other artists from Print and Photography at the RCA, titled CONNECTION LOST. The exhibition was installed & intended to open March 18th 2020; there could be no physical audience but the show continues to exist online.

The title of the show was chosen a year prior and became an ominous prophecy for the coming months, where many people could only communicate and connect with one another virtually. This virtual connection is no replacement for physical contact. The fist in the image appears to clench or hold onto an absent, watery space, like trying to catch smoke. The surface of the metal was repeatedly beaten, like a weathered billboard, or a future relic; there has been a breakdown in communication.