'A rare photograph of the soul leaving the body'

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Thom Bleasdale: Debut Bristol exhibition

27 July to 1  August: 'A Rare Photograph of the Soul Leaving the Body'
 Centrespace Gallery, Leonard Lane, Bristol BS1 1EA
 
Talented photo-artist and sculptor Thom Bleasdale has been selected by leading Bristol Gallery, Centrespace, to show his first-ever exhibition. Entitled ‘A Rare Photograph of the Soul Leaving the Body’, the show features 29 pieces between 27 July and 1 August. The collection is directly influenced from time spent in the UK, Barcelona, Holland and LA.   

Thom has gained rapid recognition from the art, photography and skating world. Endorsements have come from Taikia Waititi, the Oscar-nominated director, best known for Flight of the Conchords and legendary skate photographers, Hugh Holland and Jim Goodrich, as well as Ed Templeton, CEO of cult skating firm Toy Machine. Thom is also supported by WeSC, the street-fashion brand for 'intellectual slackers'.

Raised in North Devon, Thom was incredibly isolated owing to a major illness in his early 20s, which is why his perspective is so different to most. As a result of a rare condition he spent six years cut off from society and largely alone. During this time, Thom studied CG art. He also became a highly regarded magician and hypnotherapist.

Thom was trained as a photographer by his father, who gave him his first camera when he was three. Today he puts all his efforts into expressing himself and trying to establish and communicate through visual art, be it photography, sculpture, drawing and painting. The themes in his work relate to life, death and the nature of reality, mainly as a result of his social isolation during his 20s.

This is Thom's first solo exhibition and his work was chosen by the Centrespace Gallery on the basis of his proposal. At the exhibition a small number of pieces will be sold with proceeds donated to Thom's chosen charities.

Director, Taika Waitit, said, 'Thom has a keen eye for moments that pass most of us by. Quietly observed and recorded, these moments range from deeply intimate to beautifully absurd’.

Thom said of his work:

The pieces are mainly about my view on life and my attempt to convince myself that death isn't terrifying. Some of the pieces show living to its fullest extent and other pieces demonstrate aspects of life that are often unnoticed, but are much more significant than they first appear.
 
I want people to look at my pictures, read the titles and feel something, not necessarily in that order. Whether it is a desire to have been there at that moment, or a questioning of what the story being told is, or just a comprehension, I don't mind. Some of my pieces are blatantly what they are, some are quite subtle, some are stories I want to tell.

Legendary skate photographer, Hugh Holland, is equally supportive, he said recently, 'Thom has a huge interest for life. Throughout his work, his precise composition tells of a passionate eye.'
 
Jim Goodrich, original staff photographer and artist for Skateboarder Magazine said:

I consider Thom's images to be true art in every respect. His photographs are so distinctive that I recognize them from his style alone. He frequently shoots the most simple scenes, yet each image tells a deeper story and moves the viewer to feel something. His insight is evident in every photo.
 
International photographer and artist, Rebecca Tillett, is also keen to support Thom, saying:

His work is modern and minimalist but thought-provoking in nature. I find myself feeling nostalgic looking at his photographs. That takes skill and the honest ability to fully appreciate the time we reside in. The titles of his pieces reflect his feelings on each subject and cause the viewer to look deeper into the photographs than they might originally intend.