kipjones

kipjones' research is based on a succession of investigations into the interwoven relationship between the object, its materiality and its conceptual notion. These works seek to address the process of re-evaluating, expanding and transforming contemporary issues into manageable and malleable forms. The forms of the works at their most basic are dialogues into the sculptural gestures that explore the notions of engagement through scale, interactivity, space, and time. These are subjective processes where the ordinary, the understandable and the mundane are re-positioned conceptually into material-based narratives and experiences.

These works are expressive gestures that reflect on the paradox of our subjective and emotional responses by re-defining their contemporary issues into notions of spatial parameters.

Core to his studio and public practice is a relationship with materials both cast and fabricated (bronze, iron, steel and wood) that address issues of the critical and conceptual discourse of contemporary three-dimensionality. Over the last few years his delight and passion for the magic that is the metal casting process has reestablished itself and is now part of his research into the transformative process that is metal casting.

kipjones

kipjones is a cis settler, an experienced artist and educator with an MFA in Sculpture (2011) from Concordia University in Montreal Qc. Originally from Victoria, BC, he has had the pleasure and the experience of residing in multiple regions across Canada and now teaches in Toronto at OCADU while living in Hamilton, On.

He has successfully created large and small-scale public projects and commissions across Canada for the past three decades. As well as presenting work in solo and group exhibitions in China, South Korea, Germany, USA and Canada.

His involvement in artist residencies have led to creative solutions and valued experiences. These various residencies that he has attended are Sachaqa Centro de Arte, Peru; Gæsteatelier Hollufgård, Denmark; Serdé Art Centre, Latvia; Hot Metal Residency, Franconia Sculpture Park, USA; National Casting Centre, Alfred, NY; Est-Nord-Est Artist Residency, Quebec; Gros Morne National Park Artist Residency, Newfoundland; KIAC, Artist residency, Yukon.

The works he has created overtime are all elements of a continuing subjective journey into the relationship between the object as a conceptual installation.

Main image:

The links that bind, 2022, cast bronze and iron, 6”x6”x6”, The links that bind was shown in the group exhibition Calculations: Units of Measurements in Berlin. The work speaks to our collective human existence, as a way to comprehend our place in the world. The work is composed of two sets of four human forms each set of four creates a link of chain. The human forms are based on Da Vinci’s Vitruvian Man drawing with each human from standing arms outstretched balancing precariously on the edge of time. One set of four is female and cast in iron the other is male and cast in bronze. These cubes of masculine and feminine forms are linked together to speak of the inter-connections of the human experience. These human forms are unique and far from perfect and they are definitely not the idealized and iconic versions of perfection and heroism used for traditional figurative works. In posing these imperfect figures in this classic reference pose of mankind I am consciencely working to humanize and to conceptually link these human forms into a collective non-ideal.