Jess Johnson and Simon Ward: Terminus

Media Kit

Abstract perspective featuring pink and purple hues and psychedelic imagery

Jess Johnson, Tumblewych, 2018, National Gallery of Australia, Kamberri/Canberra, purchased 2018 Image courtesy of the artists; Darren Knight Gallery, Sydney; Ivan Anthony Gallery, Auckland and Jack Hanley Gallery, New York

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Contact

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Jessica Barnes
Senior Communications & Content Officer, Touring
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'It's complete escapism, virtual reality. I'm much more attracted to complete immersion as opposed to augmented reality. I want to be catapulted to a different planet entirely.'

JESS JOHNSON

Inspired by Sci-Fi, comics and fantasy movies, Jess Johnson and Simon Ward: Terminus is a virtual reality (VR) installation that transports the viewer into an imaginary landscape of colour and pattern populated by human clones, moving walkways and gateways to new realms.

With their pioneering use of virtual reality, artists Jess Johnson and Simon Ward hold a unique position amongst contemporary art practitioners. Johnson’s drawings are transformed from analogue into digital, and from solo practice into cross-disciplinary collaboration, forming the basis of this virtual experience. Animated by Ward and enriched with input from Smith and Clarke, the result is Terminus: a mysterious universe of alien architecture populated by humanoid clones and cryptic symbols, explored via a network of travellators and gateways.

Terminus presents a quest, a choose-your-own adventure into the technological. Prepare yourself for a slippage of time and space as your journey propels you through five distinct realms.

Jess Johnson and Simon Ward: Terminus is a Know My Name project and part of the The Balnaves Contemporary Series.

Curator: Jaklyn Babington, formerly Senior Curator Contemporary Art

Download Images

  • Abstract perspective featuring pink and purple hues and psychedelic imagery

    Jess Johnson, Tumblewych, 2018, National Gallery of Australia, Kamberri/Canberra, purchased 2018 Image courtesy of the artists; Darren Knight Gallery, Sydney; Ivan Anthony Gallery, Auckland and Jack Hanley Gallery, New York

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  • Abstract perspective featuring blue and red hues and psychedelic imagery

    Jess Johnson, Bloatware Syndrome, 2018, National Gallery of Australia, Kamberri/Canberra, purchased 2018 Image courtesy of the artists; Darren Knight Gallery, Sydney; Ivan Anthony Gallery, Auckland and Jack Hanley Gallery, New York

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  • Jess Johnson & Simon Ward: Terminus, installation view, 2017-18, National Gallery of Australia, Kamberri/Canberra, commissioned with the assistance of The Balnaves Foundation

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  • A woman standing opposite an artwork wearing a virtual reality headset

    Installation view of Jess Johnson, Simon Ward, Kerry Smith, Andrew Clarke, Terminus, 2017-18, National Gallery of Australia, Kamberri/Canberra, commissioned with the assistance of The Balnaves Foundation 2017. Purchased 2018

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  • Two people in a colourful exhibition space, both are wearing virtual reality headsets

    Installation view of Jess Johnson, Simon Ward, Kerry Smith, Andrew Clarke, Terminus, 2017-18, National Gallery of Australia, Kamberri/Canberra, commissioned with the assistance of The Balnaves Foundation 2017. Purchased 2018

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  • A person standing in an exhibition space with a virtual reality headset on, the image is captured looking through an abstract arch

    Installation view of Jess Johnson, Simon Ward, Kerry Smith, Andrew Clarke, Terminus, 2017-18, National Gallery of Australia, Kamberri/Canberra, commissioned with the assistance of The Balnaves Foundation 2017. Purchased 2018

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  • A person sitting across from a work of art wearing a virtual reality headset

    Installation view of Jess Johnson, Simon Ward, Kerry Smith, Andrew Clarke, Terminus, 2017-18, National Gallery of Australia, Kamberri/Canberra, commissioned with the assistance of The Balnaves Foundation 2017. Purchased 2018

    Download web version
    Download print version

Related

Contemporary Art

Terminus: Jess Johnson and Simon Ward
Learning Resource

Futuristic staircase digital world
Touring Exhibition

Jess Johnson & Simon Ward: Terminus

Past Exhibition
Coloured-pencil and pen drawing of alien architecture, symbols and figures

Central Goldfields Art Gallery, VIC
26 Aug – 5 Nov 2023

In Conversation

When virtual becomes reality

Two people sitting opposite each other in a colourful exhibition space with virtual reality headsets on

Artists Jess Johnson, in New York, and Simon Ward, in New Zealand talk with Jaklyn Babington about digital engagement during the pandemic.

Read Time: 12 minutes