Gallery - Tommo Creative

My work to date mostly explores the unique flora of Aotearoa New Zealand through a conceptual lens, informed by my time in Japan. The Shinto tradition of kōyō, which sees the changing autumn leaves as a metaphor for life’s brevity, left a strong impression on me. Returning home, I found parallel inspiration in the more subtle cycles of our evergreen landscape. The dramatic light and shadow of our native forests gave further meaning to my exploration and the foliage in my work is intentionally spotlit against a black background to underscore the same symbolism.

The numeral ‘0’ appears as a semiotic paradox: a visible symbol for the absence of anything. By representing nothing, it gives form and meaning to emptiness itself and in this way, serves as a pivot point between the two states of ‘being’ and ’emptiness’.

On returning to this symbolism regularly, the ‘0’ has evolved beyond its visual role in my work to become an anchor in my personal life. It serves as a reminder to approach life with the same balance I seek on the canvas: to find richness in simplicity, to value space as much as substance, and to understand that wholeness often arises from a conscious embrace of emptiness.

Among these botanicals are studies in local landscapes, along with experiments in other figurative forms. I consider these paintings part of the same journey, as they allow me to delve into the same broader themes, from different perspectives.