The Charnel House
From 2010 through to 2014 Tom de Freston worked on a cycle of paintings centred around a horse headed protagonist. The paintings resulted in various solo shows and a play by Toby Parker Rees, performed at The Yard Theatre. In 2014 Bridgedoor Press published The Charnel House, a poetic graphic novel by Tom based on these paintings. The book includes responses to the work by 38 contemporary poets. The Charnel House won the 2015 Saboteur Award for best anthology.
This is the monster we need, and Tom de Freston shows us how to use it
Toby Parker Rees
If de Freston’s paintings eal in illusory doubles, they also – by contrast – present instances of the dispelling of illusion, of disillusionment.
James Cahill
