Trenton Doyle Hancock (b. 1974, Oklahoma City, USA) has, since childhood, been interested in issues of morality and ethics, especially those defined by Christian beliefs. He grew up in an all-American household governed by these ideals, and over a lifetime has developed his own parallel (sometimes contradictory) value system incorporating his love of toys and the narratives played out by comic book characters. What began simply in his youth necessitated by a desire to manage a seemingly endless number of resources, questions and life information, has continued as a grand narrative into adult life, pulling in a deepening understanding of life's thematic complexities, current events and existential conundrums which have come to form the complex narrative basis for Hancock’s paintings, drawings, murals, theatrical performances and film. This, combined with constant inspiration drawn from classical comic book imagery, pop art and American cinema (especially the horror genre), as well as the aesthetic of classic prints (Durer, Goya, Daumier, Kathe Kollwitz, etc.), creates Hancock’s unique approach to collaged painting.

In recent works, Hancock continues his visual epic — the intricate story of a set of characters including Torpedo Boy (one of Hancock’s alter egos), Mounds (half-animal-half-plant-creatures), their aggressors, ‘Vegans,’ and SKUM (a larvae species in a state of becoming) has been developed over decades, with each new work contributing to the saga.

Skum Drum (2021) is a jewel like painting, small and bright — an isolated, beautiful moment. There is a hypnotic quality to the spiraling body, twisting its way to the center of the work. The skum creature is in a state of transformation and appears to have a lucidity in this process. In Hancock’s title’s what comes before or after ‘skum’ is a descriptor i.e., drum.

The work is testament to Hancock’s practice, in which he layers concepts and materials with great complexity. Formal elements of medium, colour, shape and line are of upmost importance to the artist, who creates work with dynamism and impact, in order to communicate narrative elements.