Tom Climent

Since he graduated from art collage three years ago Tom Climent has made a dream start to his career, winning a number of high…

Since he graduated from art collage three years ago Tom Climent has made a dream start to his career, winning a number of high-profile awards. Much of his work so far has developed from the practice of borrowing compositions from the great painters, using the structure as a framework on which fluid brushwork and textures are hung - elements which have, on occasion, entered into sculptural territory.

For this show Degas is the starting point, specifically The Dancing Class from 1875, the hub upon which all the works in this exhibition revolve. Dancing Parade II is a suite of four paintings starting with a loose approximation of dancers, ballet instructor and rehearsal room, details which diminish as the series progresses, thereby allowing the recurring colour range to grow in prominence. Dancing Parade I reverses this process slightly as a series of nine paintings begin with small minimalist works which gradually evolve in scale and detail, only to revert once again to minimalist subdivision.

While Climents's inquiry is undeniably intense, the kind of energy and expertise in paint manipulation seen in earlier works is replaced by a flatter application which is not nearly as exciting. But with so much source material gained from the revival of art historical references, his already considerable skill is certain to materialise once again.

Runs until August 24th.