Artist Tom de Freston's latest exhibition, Poíēsis, is a poignant exploration of pregnancy, loss and the complexities of the male gaze. De Freston's works, alongside those of his wife, novelist Kiran Millwood Hargrave, delve into the intricacies of maternal experience and the emotions that accompany it.
The exhibition is a personal and deeply empathetic response to de Freston's own experiences with pregnancy loss, as well as the emotional turmoil that accompanies these events. His use of large-scale paintings, created during his wife's pregnancies, serves as a powerful medium for processing grief and hope.
De Freston's works are not mere representations of his subjects but rather attempts to grasp their inner worlds. "You're trying to get to this figure, or to their unseen internal world," he explains. This introspection is reflective of the artist's own journey with parenthood, which has been transformative for him. His wife's pregnancies and eventual birth of their daughter, Coral, brought about a profound shift in his perspective.
While de Freston acknowledges that his relationship with his female subject – Kiran Millwood Hargrave – carries a power dynamic inherent to the male gaze, he stresses that her agency is central to this work. "Her voice is hugely present in the work," he notes. The intimacy of these paintings stems from photographs taken during their domestic life together, rather than any poses or calculated representations.
The Poíēsis exhibition is marked by a sense of hope and ritualism, capturing the mystical nature of pregnancy and its aftermath. De Freston views his works as "acts of mourning" – attempts to capture something that is gone – yet also imbued with an aura of magic and wonder. This dual aspect of the human experience – sorrow and awe – serves as a powerful testament to de Freston's empathetic approach.
Ultimately, Poíēsis presents a nuanced exploration of pregnancy, loss and the complexities of male-female relationships in visual art. Through his works, de Freston succeeds in capturing that mix of grief and hope, giving voice to the experiences that are often left unspoken.
The exhibition is a personal and deeply empathetic response to de Freston's own experiences with pregnancy loss, as well as the emotional turmoil that accompanies these events. His use of large-scale paintings, created during his wife's pregnancies, serves as a powerful medium for processing grief and hope.
De Freston's works are not mere representations of his subjects but rather attempts to grasp their inner worlds. "You're trying to get to this figure, or to their unseen internal world," he explains. This introspection is reflective of the artist's own journey with parenthood, which has been transformative for him. His wife's pregnancies and eventual birth of their daughter, Coral, brought about a profound shift in his perspective.
While de Freston acknowledges that his relationship with his female subject – Kiran Millwood Hargrave – carries a power dynamic inherent to the male gaze, he stresses that her agency is central to this work. "Her voice is hugely present in the work," he notes. The intimacy of these paintings stems from photographs taken during their domestic life together, rather than any poses or calculated representations.
The Poíēsis exhibition is marked by a sense of hope and ritualism, capturing the mystical nature of pregnancy and its aftermath. De Freston views his works as "acts of mourning" – attempts to capture something that is gone – yet also imbued with an aura of magic and wonder. This dual aspect of the human experience – sorrow and awe – serves as a powerful testament to de Freston's empathetic approach.
Ultimately, Poíēsis presents a nuanced exploration of pregnancy, loss and the complexities of male-female relationships in visual art. Through his works, de Freston succeeds in capturing that mix of grief and hope, giving voice to the experiences that are often left unspoken.
i think its amazing that he's making space for his wife's voice in this work too - it's not just about him, its about their relationship and their experiences together 
it's like he's speaking directly to my soul... I mean I've had some tough times with pregnancy loss too and to see someone put their emotions and experiences into art is just beautiful 
I'm so inspired by Tom's honesty about his own emotional journey and how he's trying to grasp the inner worlds of his subjects it's like he's saying "hey my experiences are valid too" 
I think what's really beautiful about Tom de Freston's exhibition is how he's not just portraying a subject, but trying to understand her as a person. It's like he's showing us his own vulnerability and willingness to listen. That sense of empathy is something we can all relate to, especially when it comes to experiences that are hard to put into words. The way the paintings feel both intimate and ritualistic is so captivating – it's like he's sharing a part of himself with us. It makes me wonder what other stories are hidden behind those brushstrokes... 
it's like they're having this deep convo through art & it's so beautiful. de Freston says his art is 'acts of mourning' but i think it's more like acts of healing & hope 
he's capturing that messy human feelin' where u gotta mourn what's lost, but also be all about the magic & wonder of life. btw, Coral (their daughter) is literally the cutest thing eva 
. It's like he's trying to hold onto something beautiful amidst all the chaos and grief, and that's what makes these paintings so incredible 
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Can someone explain to me how the artist views power dynamics in their relationship while creating these pieces?