Flegeljahre by Andrew Wild

Tom Wild is Brisbane born and raised, spending his time studying and playing soccer – a teenager on the cusp of adulthood, independence and facing considerable life choices. He is also Andrew Wild’s son. The title, Flegeljahre, is a German word meaning the awkward years, that particular threshold between childhood and what comes next. 

“I’ve referenced the work of a Thomas Lawrence painting for the background.” Andrew says. “Taken out of context, Lawrence’s fabrics have a flamelike quality in my piece. Action hero vibes, the magic of being that age, main character energy”.

Yet, behind Tom’s averted gaze sits something more complex. This work explores a parent’s quiet reckoning with what the future of the planet holds, the world his son is about to step into. The background is an evocation of the climate anxiety Andrew feels as a parent. Tom looks towards his own future, questioning what lies ahead.