Jonathan Jones - GBK

Of both of the artists currently exhibiting at GBK and Breenspace, I felt I was interested in Jonathan's work the most. Much of Jonathan's work is obviously concerned with minimal abstraction and is heavily influenced by Dan Flavin's minimal abstract fluorescent sculptures/installations*. Jones uses fluorescent lights in such a similar way to Flavin's work it makes me think there is a subtle undertone of appropriation? But this may be just because Flavin was so distinctly known for being the first user of fluorescent lights in sculpture - every artist that uses them may be trapped by this fact.

His drawings had an interesting relationship to the sculptures. It is almost essential that they are hung in front of the sculptures so as to catch the light and create another dimension in the reflection. The drawings themselves are deliberately two dimensional and simple so their interaction with an outside light source seemed preempted. Jones use of light has a pronounced subtlety to it - where other artists using light may take full advantage of the spectrum and different technologies Jones will use a monochromatic light, a stark response to artists like Flavin and even Olafur Eliasson.

He also creates these sculptures and patterns in a minimalist effort to strip any meaning or preconceptions from his objects but still referencing such a human and emotional side of himself. His works are like a celebration of aboriginal culture, creating tribal shapes and patterns (they are more prominent in other works) but to me there is still a feeling of loss or grief. It's almost like the reference is so subtle it's barely there and has been replaced by the modern** - the less hand-made or human influenced his sculptures are the more emotionless and therefore emotional the work seems.

This may be because the topic is very emotional and the objects are so lifeless it is almost like looking at a dead body or something with equal nostalgic value. Jones is not endeavoring to create a singular sculpture or object although it may seem that way on first inspection. I feel the key element in his work is the relationship between each contributing piece - from each viewing point the foreground shapes combined with the background shapes create different abstractions of the space. The viewer finds themselves amongst the artwork and is no longer in a position of the traditional art spectator. A common theme appearing more in contemporary art.

I can appreciate the clear communication of creating such machine-like emotionless angular shapes and combining them with such humanity and emotion, but still managing to maintain a subtlety about Jones work.