Megan and the Chaos Blossom - a Solo Exhibition by Tom Lewis

The lurid paintings of British and London based artist Tom Lewis will return to the UK once more, this time at Mayfair’s 10 White Horse Street between 10th and 17th June, this is his final exhibition before he embarks on a month long residency in Japan as funded by GB Sasakawa.

Lewis’ interest in the power of stories has, for over a decade, seen him intuitively invent open ended narratives populated by whimsical characters with mysterious motives and symbols imbued with secret knowledge. Exploring the relationship between meaning and nonsense Tom’s work playfully, and often surprisingly, touches on humanity's most fundamental questions: what gives things meaning, what is the true nature of reality, and how to make sense of being?

Tom’s combination of playful and humourous explanations of deep philosophical thoughts can be best expressed through his theory that: “Perhaps our souls are nothing but tiny, decorative, multi-dimensional blankets we pull over our shivering brains, woven from delicate thread of narrative.”

From his studio in North London, Tom’s practice playfully explores the nature of storytelling, and how meaning is created through both myth and suggested narrative. Lewis' world is populated by whimsical characters ranging from malevolent tentacled monsters to intoxicated samurai pandas. His signature character references classical hero archetypes, re-presenting beliefs that have echoed throughout history. The work pokes at ideas of universal truth and reflects on the slippery authoritative power inherent in anything that promises answers to life’s most metaphysical questions.

Working on a mixture of birch panel and canvas, Lewis’ painting style is informed by both traditional and digital image making techniques. His distinctive aesthetic takes influence from numerous sources, from Ukiyo-e woodblock prints and manga to abstract expressionism and pop surrealism. His vibrant paintings fizz with energy, colour and potential.

Tom Lewis In Japan

This is the final exhibition before Lewis heads off to Japan for a month long artistic exploration, where he will be exploring the different facets of belief and religious narratives in this special place. Shikoku, Hokkaido and Tokyo will be three places that Tom will be particularly exploring, absorbing the culture and preparing for the next body of work that will come to fruition in the coming years.