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Jess Johnson & Simon Ward: Terminus

Touring Exhibition
Hazelhurst Arts Centre, Sydney NSW
25 June – 28 August 2022
Coloured-pencil and pen drawing of alien architecture, symbols and figures

Jess Johnson Tumblewych 2018, drawing in fibre-tip pen, fibre-tip markers and gouache, National Gallery of Australia, Canberra, Purchased 2018, Image courtesy of the artist; Darren Knight Gallery, Sydney; Ivan Anthony Gallery, Auckland and Jack Hanley Gallery, New York

A hero ventures forth from the world of common day into a region of supernatural wonder...

Joseph Campbell

  • About
  • Touring Dates
  • Resources

About


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, Senior Curator Contemporary Art

Plan your visit

Terminus includes five VR experiences, which are each approximately 5:30 minutes in duration. You may need to allow between 30 minutes to 1 hour for your adventure. As each experience is individual you may find there is a short wait before you can begin your quest. You may want to take this time to explore Terminus’ immersive environment.

Touring Dates and Venues


This touring exhibition was sponsored by Visions of Australia, a National Collecting Institutions Touring and Outreach program.

  • Hamilton Gallery, VIC
    8 April – 5 June 2022
  • Hazelhurst Regional Gallery and Arts Centre, NSW
    25 June – 28 August 2022
  • Western Plains Cultural Centre, NSW
    8 October – 4 December 2022
  • Wagga Wagga Art Gallery, NSW
    13 December 2022 – 6 February 2023
  • Hyphen Wodonga, VIC
    20 May – 13 August 2023

Resources


When virtual becomes reality

A woman stands in her art studio

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

Jess Johnson & Simon Ward Artist Interview

Jaklyn Babington, Senior Curator, Contemporary Art, spoke to Jess Johnson and Simon Ward about the conception and construction of their Terminus commission.

Contemporary Art

Terminus: Jess Johnson and Simon Ward

Futuristic staircase digital world

Secondary school education resource.

Perspective Drawing with Jess Johnson

Artist Activity Sheet

Draw Alien Heads with Jess Johnson

A drawing of human faces and figures

Artist Activity Sheet

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