Prints Charming
To hell with politics - Sydney-born printmaker Jonathan James just wants to be loved
By Brooke Salisbury
Love is in the air in Heliotrope, the latest show from Sydney-based printmaker Jonathan James. "There's a story happening in my mind," James says. "A man has been looking for love for a long time, so he goes hunting for this guy. In a way, I think it's about me wanting intimacy. Though I don't entirely believe it - I think, deep down, I'm happy on my own."
The series depicts a turbulent relationship in fast forward. Boy meets boy, boy loses boy - and the ending is open to interpretation. "Personally I feel that the series ends with him going crazy. A lot of people bring their own meaning to it though. They'll say, ‘He finally saw the light, that's amazing', whereas I think he just got lost in the forest."
Heliotrope combines portraiture with psychedelic landscapes, and is printed using the rainbow plate technique. The 15 images reference cinema and advertising as well as the baroque nature of human relationships. What they don't have is any axes to grind about sexuality or gender. "The works are about relationships, not just gay relationships. I used to do a lot of political work about gay marriage. Then I realised I actually don't want to get married, ever. I based a lot of work on John Howard too, then he left government, so that one ran dry. The reception for that kind of art was great. I never made it didactic - there was always a hint of playfulness to it."
James has worked at printmaking for the better part of a decade. "I feel like I'm just scratching the surface of printing. There's so much I want to do."
Heliotrope opens on Wed 25 June from 6pm at Sheffer Gallery, 38 Lander St, Darlinghurst 2008. (02 9310 5683)