Hamish Jones’s hides boldly, playfully and powerfully pop from the gallery walls. A glimpse into a child’s mind, of exotic places and imagined adventures but also a symbol of mans’ dominance over his fellow animal.
On first glance the pop art pieces seem like paintings on a uniquely shaped canvas however on closer inspection one realises the works of art are actually made up of many smaller pieces (or inlays). Each piece, carefully links to the next creating a complex wooden puzzle similar to those young children complete. And like a child proudly displaying his completed puzzle Jones elevates the trophy onto the wall for all to see.
From a child’s view the works colourfully tell stories of hunting wild, exotic animals in far off places. Some animals have a sense of imagination and fantasy such as ‘Macaque flamisus’ a monkey with distinctive patterning and ‘Opakia jonestoni’, a giraffe like animal with markings of a zebra only found in The Democratic of Congo.
From an adult view the works talk of the desire to do the same - hunting, capturing and claiming rare and exotic animals. ‘ Panthera tigris’ and ‘Panthera tigris tigris’ display the skin of the white and orange Bengal tiger, some of the most sought after skins in the world.
Childrens’ stories and movies are alluded to throughout the works. ‘Giraffe cameloparadalis’ has a comical feel and could be seen on Tarzan swinging through the jungle while ‘Panthera paradus’ may remind the viewer of The Flinstones pre-historic outfits. The undesirables of The Lion King are triumphed over as ‘Hyaenidac’ (the stripped hyena) is captured and displayed.
Bold, colourful and skilfully made, Joneses pieces speak to the child and hunter in us all.
