Chromatones by Tom Adair Opens Virtually at Nanda\Hobbs Sydney.

Tom Adair in front of Atmospheric, 2020. Acrylic polymer and matte varnish on dibond 200 x 150cm.

Emerging Melbourne artist and a dear friend of Yellowtrace, Tom Adair, has a solo show at Nanda\Hobbs in Sydney launched virtually with much success. Dubbed Chromatones, the exhibition showcases 16 new pieces painted by hand using Tom’s signature dotted airbrush technique, unveiling his new direction since adopting the latest CYMK (Cyan, Yellow, Magenta and Black) palette.

Given the current public health climate, Chromatones is exhibited virtually, with Nanda\Hobbs embracing the power of the digital medium and the latest technology to ensure art lovers can still experience the exhibition in real-time. Gallery Director, Ralph Hobbs, has opened the show online with a live video stream, a 3D virtual tour of the exhibition and a talk with the artist via YouTube.

Chromatones is the next step in Adair’s technical development. He mimics the mass production of magazine imagery known as the CMYK process—a method utilising layers of coloured dots to create an image. Colour and form blur on close inspection but from a distance—ambiguity gives way to clarity.

Drawing inspiration from the Hunter S. Thompson classic film “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas,” the paintings play on optical duplicity and superficiality. “The process of hand-replicating a CYMK technique — a method that relies on layered dots of colour to form and image — lends itself to a hallucinogenic vividness and a sense of hyper-reality that was inspired by the film and visiting Joshua Tree, a destination synonymous with psilocybin trips,” says Tom.

Related: Tom Adair’s Debut Solo Show HOME Opens at Metro Gallery.

Palm Springs epitomises the idea of a Utopian paradise. It is the palm tree manicured landscape carved out of the desert that we believed we could bend to our human will—and the foundation of our contemporary notion of “sunblessed glamour”. The iconic buildings and the landscape they inhabit have been documented, dissected and imaged by Adair’s steady hand. Contextually, they reference an era in American history where anything was possible. It was post-depression, post-war. Man could land on the moon. Prosperity was abundant. One could build or buy anything needed to be happy.

Now the world has changed. We live in a time of immense social, environmental and economic upheaval. Anxiety is peaking globally. This is not the first time in history man has faced the unseen wrath of nature. But it is the first global crisis in the digital age—and it has touched us all. In our brave new world of social distancing and lockdown, our existence is a far cry from idealized Arcadian visions of times past.

Today, looking at Adair’s pop enthused exploration of the landscape through wistful eyes, there is an unswerving sense of joy and hope in his work. The optimism of his imagery plugs us directly into that time that was social, joyous and carefree.

In our 2020 neo-contemporary existence, Adair is an artist that reminds us that in this world there is much to like. In doing so provides us with an illuminated light-filled exhibition that is the catalyst for hope.

Tom Adair’s ‘Chromotones’  is on show at Nanda\Hobbs until 14th May. The full catalogue of paintings, exhibition essay, a filmed talk with the artist and Art Director, Ralph Hobbs and a 3D virtual tour are on view at nandahobbs.com/exhibition/chromatones

Equilibrium, 2020. Acrylic polymer and matte varnish on dibond, oak frame 130 x 180cm each panel.

This Yellowtrace Promotion is proudly supported by Tom Adair. Like everything we do, our partner content is carefully curated to maintain utmost relevance to our readers. Thank you for supporting the people who support Yellowtrace.

[Images courtesy of Tom Adair.]