Hold Me Closer - Thomas Hjelm
Title: Hold Me Closer
Material: Inkjet and Paint on Linen
Dimensions: 130 x 170 cm
Artist: Thomas Hjelm
Hold Me Closer embodies the disruptive and tangible nature of Hjelm’s practice; a distortion of imagery and text ubiquitously found within mass media translated into something uniquely physical. The multi-layered artwork distorts the familiarity of image creation and consumption through a reinterpretation of structures and systems taken for granted. The canvas cries out for connection whilst humorously proclaiming the lack of intimacy found through digital means, exemplified through the silhouetted figure and erosion of the canvas surface revealing a darker abyss. The internalised need to be virtually present has ironically created a greater understanding of what it is to be alone with oneself. The imagery of the canvas is designed to grab your attention like an advertisement, drawing the viewer in, whilst simultaneously being caught on the fixation of the female’s gaze and the surrounding body and texts begin to unfurl.