The desired effect of visiting an art exhibition: get lost, escape from reality … whatever the final destination, whatever the journey can lead to. Jess Johnson‘s latest show completely disturbs its visitors’ senses through a stunning immersion into a psychedelic, vivid other-world.
A New Zealand native, the Melbourne-based artist uses Occulus Rift to engulf your sensory faculties; developing an unexpected experience inspired by distorted realities, spirituality, filmmaker Alejandro Jodorowsky — fused by her hypnotic futurist comic book aesthetic. You needn’t quit the galaxy to land in a sci-fi universe with Johnson’s obsessive, intriguing sense of cosmic graphism.
Dubbed Ixian Gate, this new animation is invaded by unknown shapes and figures that propels virtual art to its highest expression; stereoscopic sound included. Impressive, precise drawings that deal with a mix of pop culture, and the aforementioned otherworldly influences, surround the central VR pod. It’s at once abstract and totally clear; symbolic referencing and architectural allusions making strange sense of our very own reality.
Jess Johnson, Wurm Haus runs till 28 Feb at National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne.
Installation views of Jess Johnson: Wurm Haus at NGV International.
Photography, Tobias Titz
Jess Johnson
New Zealander 1979–
Gamma World 2013
pen and ink, coloured fibre-tipped pens, metallic paint and collage on paper
119.6 x 90.7 cm (framed)
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
The John McCaughey Memorial Prize Trust, 2013 2013.963.10
© Jess Johnson courtesy of Darren Knight Gallery, Sydney; and Ivan Anthony Gallery, Auckland
Jess Johnson
New Zealander 1979–
We want to live 2013
pen and ink, coloured fibre-tipped pens, metallic paint and collage on paper
121.6 x 90.7 cm (framed)
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
The John McCaughey Memorial Prize Trust, 2013 2013.963.5
© Jess Johnson courtesy of Darren Knight Gallery, Sydney; and Ivan Anthony Gallery, Auckland
Jess Johnson, New Zealander 1979–, Ixian Gate 2015 (stills)
colour virtual reality animation, sound. 5 min 35 sec
© Jess Johnson courtesy of Darren Knight Gallery, Sydney; and Ivan Anthony Gallery, Auckland
Installation view of Jess Johnson: Wurm Haus at NGV International.
Photography, Tobias Titz
Jess Johnson
New Zealander 1979–
Blood visions 2013
coloured fibre-tipped pens and metallic paint on paper
121.0 x 89.8 cm (framed)
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
The John McCaughey Memorial Prize Trust, 2013 2013.963.3
© Jess Johnson courtesy of Darren Knight Gallery, Sydney; and Ivan Anthony Gallery, Auckland
Jess Johnson
New Zealander 1979–
Whurlpull centrium 2013
pen and ink, coloured fibre-tipped pens, metallic paint and collage on paper
119.6 x 90.8 cm (framed)
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
The John McCaughey Memorial Prize Trust, 2013 2013.963.2
© Jess Johnson courtesy of Darren Knight Gallery, Sydney; and Ivan Anthony Gallery, Auckland
