CLAUDE JONES / IN STUDIO WITH THE ARTIST

Claude Jones takes aim at man's exploitation of animals through her intentionally subversive art. 

Known for her poignant and childlike collages and drawings and potent mixed media sculptures, Claude Jones has undertaken specialist international study programs and associated residencies to develop her ceramic skills for her current exhibition, Broken, on show at Artereal Gallery throughout the month of November. 

The medium is naturally suited to this body of work, which takes aim at the broken bodies and trust of man's deceitful relationship with animals.  

In the lead up to her exhibition, Claude Jones documented her creative practice, experimentation with ceramics and her works in progress through this intimate series of in-studio photographs, taken during her recent residency in Mexico and more recently, at Sydney College of the Arts.

Claude Jones' solo exhibition, Broken, is now on at Artereal Gallery until Saturday 29 November 2014.
 

Endangered species (pictured above as a work in progress) is a cluster of ceramic, pale, embryonic, cloned and mutant hybrid creatures that huddle together seemingly for protection. They are drawn from species that are introduced; a mix of fox, deer and rabbit. All are animals that are hunted or 'culled' in Australia, seen as pests for both flora and fauna, and as the artist notes, "a threat to the illusive construct of balanced ecology. - Barbara Dowse, Curator

l

CLAUDE JONES / ARTIST NEWS

Claude Jones_Bent on Destruction_2013_glazed ceramic and polymer clay, acrylic_120x70x28cm (figure) and 30x35x15cm (rabbit)

Claude Jones ceramic work Bent on Destruction is currently in the exhibition Wildlife Art @ Discovery held at the CSIRO Discovery Centre in Canberra. Wildlife Art @ Discovery is held in conjunction with a 4-day symposium covering wildlife art, science and conservation. The exhibition runs from May 16th until May 31st.

In focusing on endangered species, Wildlife Art @ Discovery, correlates with Jones' focus on the cruelty of hunting - in particular the controversial 'culling' of kangaroos in Australia. In this work she aims to anthropomorphise the kangaroo; arming him with a bent rifle alongside a hunting rabbit. "For it is not the innocent animals that are 'bent on destruction', but the humans."

Claude Jones_Deering Defense_2012_mixed media on canvas_25x25cm

Claude Jones work Deering Defense has been selected as a finalist in the Scope Galleries Art Prize, Victoria. This exhibition aims to raise awareness of environmental issues. It will run from 8 June until 20 July 2014. 

This work is one of Claude Jones' recent series in which anthropomorphised animals are depicted in fight or flight mode - sentient beings responding to humanity's enrichment of their land, their habitat, and their lives.

Claude Jones_Rabbits Revenge_2014_acrylic, watercolour, pencil, collage and screen print on paper_109x103cm

Claude Jones' work Rabbits Revenge has been selected as a finalist in the Cliftons Art Prize, Sydney.

Rabbit's Revenge suggests animal exploitation in which, ironically, it is the animals themselves that are the protagonists. The soft colours and decorative elements of this work perpetuate this sinister narrative content.