Bowerbird Central - Brian Jones
HUW DAVIES GALLERY 14 June to 1 July 2012
Brian Jones has developed a reputation as a fine, thoughtful photographer and active member of the Canberra photographic community since he joined PhotoAccess in March 2005 on his retirement from the Australian Public Service.
In a relatively short time he has completed a number of PhotoAccess courses, contributed to many PhotoAccess and other group shows, accumulated awards, served as President of the Canberra Photographic Society (CPS) and completed the Graduate Diploma in Visual Art (photography and media arts) at the ANU School of Art. 'Bowerbird Central' is his first solo exhibition in the HUW DAVIES GALLERY at PhotoAccess.
Jones’ only other solo exhibition was 'A glass half full: portraits of an age', his graduating exhibition at the ANU School of Art Gallery in March 2009. The images were monochromatic portraits in close up of older men and women, their vitality and character transcending the obvious physical impacts of time. The individual portraits were all strong and appealing. As a group the images made a powerful statement about the essence and strength of humankind.
Through a series of carefully chosen still and moving images Brian Jones gives us a privileged insight into the essence and strength of the Satin Bowerbird in 'Bowerbird Central'. While it is a common feature of our nearby forests, its relatively recent move to the city has added to the astonishing diversity and number of native birds inhabiting Canberra’s suburban landscape.
We can be grateful these birds chose to live in Brian Jones’ backyard because in his hands they are represented with fidelity, intelligence and, sometimes, humour. Jones shows us how fascinating and beautiful these birds are through two central characters, a juvenile male in Apprenticeship 1–13 (although Apprenticeship 12 is a female, showing the similarities of females and juvenile males) and a young male moving into adulthood with his shiny blue-black plumage (Transition 1–5). The importance of the bower means it is central to the lives of these birds and to the way Jones has chosen to tell their story. He enriches the story with moving images and ambient sound showing incidents in the daily lives of Satin Bowerbirds.
PhotoAccess is delighted to present 'Bowerbird Central' by Brian Jones in the HUW DAVIES GALLERY at the Manuka Arts Centre.
David Chalker
