Tom Hoar

In September 2013 Tom Hoar was invited to join a select group of British artists on a painting trip to Transylvania, to capture a way of life that has been lost elsewhere in Europe.

Supported by His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales and the ADEPT Charity, their collection of paintings will go on show at the Romanian Cultural Institute at the Transylvania Festival from 13th – 15th May 2014.

The exhibition is being run in association with Fundatia ADEPT, a charity which aims to both support and preserve traditional values whilst keeping pace with the modern world by combining contemporary technology with traditional methods and values.

Staying with a local family in Viscri, Tom and his fellow artists experienced a way of life centred around traditional values of self-sufficiency, egalitarian living and subsistence farming. The resulting collection captures and reflects on this ancient way of life; whilst raising awareness and funds to support a living, working and thriving community that is both economically viable and sustainable in today's world.

On a more personal level the experience has provided further scope for Tom to explore the context and themes around his recent Circus Show and to experience a community rooted in the traditions of their Gypsy heritage and the wider realms of ancient Carnivals, pre-Christian traditions and their Pagan rituals.