2009 Artspace Artist Multiple: Jonathan Jones

Whether in discrete sculptural forms or large-scale installation works Jonathan Jones activates spaces between light and its absence, between the material and ephemeral – spaces that are also distances to be traversed between cultures, between history and memory, between past, present and future. Following his extraordinary untitled [heads or tails] installation at Artspace in June this year that utilized fluorescent lights to form sculptural blocks scattered across the space, Jones has developed the 2009 Artspace Artist Multiple, skins or shirts. These twelve objects – each made distinct by the use of different sections of fabric – combine light with air, building on past works where light has been sheeted or covered. Activated by a small fan and ring of lights in their base the absolute parameters of much minimal sculpture. The void or inflatable space created between light and material is a space of imaginative potential. The fabric in these works is literally cut from shirts belonging to Jones’ grandfather, then animated by both air and light to act something like a memory where form is malleable, fluid and changeable.

Jonathan Jones (Kamilaroi, Wiradjuri) is a Sydney-based artist whose major solo exhibitions include Jonathan Jones: untitled [the tyranny of distance] at Sherman Contemporary Art Foundation, Sydney, 2008 and Jonathan Jones at Newcastle Region Art Gallery, 2007. His work has been included in a range of group exhibitions both around Australia and internationally, including NEW08 at Australian Centre for Contemporary Art, Melbourne, 2008, Adventures with form in space at Art Gallery of NSW, 2006, Primavera at Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney, 2003 and the 2002 Adelaide Biennial of Australian Art. Jones was recipient of the Xstrata Coal Emerging Indigenous Art Award from the Queensland Art Gallery in 2006. He is represented by Gallery Barry Keldoulis, Sydney.

The Artist and Artspace gratefully acknowledge the support of Gallery Barry Keldoulis, Sydney in the realization of this project.

The Artspace Artist Multiple program was launched in 2007 with Shaun Gladwell’s Guide to Recent Architecture: Fountains (excerpt) and continued in 2008 with Caroline Rothwell’s Crop Seed (poppy). Under this program one exhibiting artist each year produces and donates a limited edition work to raise funds for Artspace programs.

Jonathan Jones
skins or shirts, 2009
LED lights, fan, plastic, fabric and fittings 20cm x 19cm x 19cm
Edition of 10 + 2 artist proofs. Presented with a signed certificate
Courtesy the artist. Price $880 (incl. GST)

Six different fabrics have been used in the construction of skins or shirts. Please contact Artspace for images of each version of the multiple.

For more informtaion please contact:

Tracy Burgess

Gallery & Studio Administrator

+612 9356 0555 or tracyb@artspace.org.au