Jonathan Jones

The work of Australian artist Jonathan Jones at GBK Gallery was a subtle experience for me. Walking around the exhibition space I could not draw any specific intentions of the artist. His triangle-based shapes, marked using parallel-circuited fluorescent lights dominated the space.
Allowing them to rest on the floor and rise up gave the viewer a distinctive perspective to really, not just view the work, but merge and pass through the installation.  My views on his work can be broken down into two categories that umbrella most conceptually biased art, experience-prior-reading and experience-post-reading. Without the reading and information given Jones intention is not clear, even though I thoroughly enjoyed the compositions within the space through an Abstract frame of mind. However it is through the information provided we are given a history and an insight into Jones influence from indigenous and western art.

After spending some time in the installation juxtaposition became clear between this drawings and his fluorescent lights. He seems to be playing with notions of positive and negative space, contrasting his black lined drawings with the light lined sculptures. The interplay between the drawings that were hung with intention to reflect the light seemed to create a balance in the work and giving it a more ‘whole’ feeling.  As in the reading by Anna-Marie White conveys, “ It describes the interplay of positive and negative space – that gives their energy and vitality”.
It is in this space within the installation the viewer is situated. In the grayness between contrasting shades of black and white we are included in the work. With the thousands of viewpoints given to us we can compose our own interpretations, which I feel is a very subtle beautiful aspect of his work.

After being schooled by the reading my interpretation of the work changed, not as though it added a lot of substance to the work personally, but it was kind of a fun-to-know sort of thing.

It becomes clear that he is maintaining a form of tradition in his work through modern means. As the reading suggests he is mindful of his responsibilities as a “representative of his people” but it was satisfying to discover this did not dictate his work. An example of this connection he makes is though repetition and pattern making.  This portrayal of indigenous tradition through a minimalist means is a post-modern concept and adds another layer within his work.

The fact that he makes reference to western art by using florescent lights in a minimalist sense gives the impression that he isn’t rejecting western notions.

 

I fell as though his work is successful in the way that it manages to create these very subtle connections to his heritage, yet still remain free enough to be viewed without interpretation.