‘Is it the painter or the picture/Hanging in the Gallery?’ Hanging in the Gallery by Dave Cousins is quoted on a blog by Maidstone artist Tom Phillips. Tom is about to find out during his first photography exhibition at the Below 65 Gallery.
Self-taught artist, Tom began taking snapshots as a child. Also a keen sprinter he won titles in the 1970’s and 80’s until he suffered an injury. However, this set back allowed him to explore his other love – the Italian Dolomites. A recovered Tom found the Masters Athletics – a competition for those over 35 years of age. Competing has aided his photography: he is now an accredited photographer, photographing Masters Athletics among many other subjects.
The exhibition will be split into two themes: Places and People, which display his ‘photocolours’ - a collision of paint and digital media. Tom has numerous awe inspiring photographs from the Dolomites and Masters but one of his most popular pieces is ‘Pigeon Man’ which he says will be displayed like a medieval triptych. There will be a single central piece made up of four poignant images of a scruffy Parisian man welcoming a pigeon landing on his hand. This piece will be flanked by a single image either side. By capturing such a simple gesture he’s managed to illustrate the unnoticed beauty in the everyday.
Tom remains secretive about techniques behind his ‘photocolours’. However, he did say they originate from a photograph and can get quite messy. Printing onto damp paper he works the watery ink before stitching together a digital collage. He said it can be ‘hit and miss’ but he likes the ‘control over the density of colour’ and the ‘uniformity of the image’ which he feels he can’t always get from painting alone.
Tom can take 6 months away from the camera to ‘see properly’ - supporting his ‘metaphysical view’ believing ‘images find you rather than you finding them’. He recently had a different experience of images finding him. Snapping San Francisco,
Tom captured one of his favourite photos: a Marlon Brando figure on a motorbike wearing flip-flops – an intriguing juxtaposition. Unfortunately, Tom lost all these pictures. This Christmas Eve an early gift appeared - he stumbled upon a disc containing his beloved photographs, including ‘Brando’ in flip-flops.
Future projects include further documentation of the river Medway. There’ll be examples in Tom’s exhibition along with an album of the Great Dolomite Road, comparing images from the 1920’s with his more recent ones.
Helen Shewry Interviews Tom Phillips
The Bigger Picture, 1st – 28th February 2014 at Below 65 Gallery, Gilbert and Clark Frame and Print, 65 High Street, Maidstone. Opening hours: Mon – Sat, 9:30 – 4:30. Free entry.
For further information visit: www.gilbertandclark.com or www.ablogscape.wordpress.com