Gemma Jones is exploring action, suspense, and consequence in a multi disciplinary practice. Orienting around themes of how the human body manoeuvres while completing mundane activities, overcoming obstacles, and exploring feelings of prolonged uncertainty, instability and pain when navigating life with a disability. Drawing from her own experiences, she manipulates materials and translates them into forms that show the impact that our surroundings can have on our physical and mental selves. To draw parallels between the physical and the emotive experiences to be able to create indexical artwork, Jones explores journeys of self-discovery, personal experience, and the livelihoods of others.  

Drawn to things which provide a challenge to work with; such as uneven or slippery surfaces such as sand, gravel, and mud, heavy materials like cement, as well as items like chairs provide examples of how the mundane and common materials translate into obstacles or threats. When creating work she utilises her whole body, to instigate a discussion between herself and object. While working with such materials, moving, lifting, and crawling, amongst other strenuous activities is an important part of the process and discovery of my practice. Spending various amounts of time with each item, often performing repetitive or tedious acts, allowing a level of engagement with the materials which prompts conversation and instigates a discussion between herself and the object, many of which she comes into contact with daily. Mimicking the methods of ritual and meticulous planning used to navigate her daily tasks become an occurrence within the practice.

Taking inspiration from objects such as walking supports, wheelchairs, hearing aids and other devices used as aids or supports, Jones observes their impact on the individual and their visual representation, to enquire about disability’s status in society and comfort how many people find it challenging to discuss these potentially sensitive subjects. She observes the societal perception of others and how these objects become signifiers, used to make assumptions around individual identity. Jones uses these assumptions and considers them in conjunction with the relationship which one has with their bodies.

Instagram: @gemmajjonesart