The elephant in the room is a triptych of large-scale artworks made at StudionAme, Leicester in 2020.

These big canvasses depict three individual Indian elephants rendered in charcoal and each elephant is drawn with a very different posture as if performing and interacting with a suggestive narrative.

Each charcoal drawing has been partially erased with line drawings and text that alludes to how elephants have been understood culturally across the world, throughout history and today.

Tom researches these ideas and then layers images and text to relate to the animal, to form a kind of screen that shows how these animals are understood and impacted by humanity.

The elephant in the room triptych

The elephant in the room (left), 2020. Charcoal and acrylic on canvas. 240 x 300 cm.

The elephant in the room (left), 2020. Charcoal and acrylic on canvas. 240 x 300 cm.

The elephant in the room (right), 2020. Charcoal and acrylic on canvas. 240 x 300 cm.

Detail (Dumbo)

Tom in gallery