Born and based in New Zealand, Gina Jones combines her architectural career with her role as a contemporary artist to explore the notion of light and the perception of time. A huge influence on the artist’s work is the clean design aesthetic of minimalism and geometric abstraction - Bauhaus and De Stijl are both huge sources of interest for Jones.
In order to exercise the greatest control over her artwork, Jones abandoned the canvas and the hand drawn line in favour of architectural materials. Initially using materials such as laser cut steel, glass or Perspex and corrugated iron, in combination with warm, softly changing light, Jones built an international reputation for producing ‘light-works’ of great intensity and beauty.
In 2013 Jones shifted away from the usage of LED lights to more modest materials that have to work harder (and the artist smarter) to achieve the same viewer experience that light technology produced so effortlessly. As Jones says “Whereas I previously used mirrored glass and changing colours (via LED lights) to challenge and intensify the viewers awareness of space and time, those same sensations are now provided via optical illusions that present a 3D view from a 2D plane.”
As with the traditions of abstract painting, the foci of Jones work is on time and space, as she aims to create a protracted and more intense viewing experience. The objective of her work is to create an extension of the viewing experience. The illusion of depth captures the viewer and ultimately invites contemplation.
“In many ways this body of work is a continuation of the central theme from my 2006 Masters, that being an exploration of time, space and colour. Rather than using technology to achieve that end, the effect is provided by more modest materials that work together to create space beyond the picture frame”. My goal is to develop work which invites contemplation, by using space and shifts in light, creating an awareness of ‘being in time’.
Jones had a solo exhibition from December 2009 to February 2010 at public institution, The Wairarapa Museum of Art and History in Masterton, New Zealand. Jones has exhibited in several solo and group shows throughout New Zealand and in the Melbourne and Hong Kong Art Fairs.
Gina Jones has been a finalist for several art prizes and received her Masters in Fine Arts at RMIT in 2005.
