Looking at big issues in an understated way - this is how one might describe Jonathan Jones’ work and life philosophy. Based in Sydney, the contemporary aboriginal artist works in varied media, including printmaking, drawing, installation, and film; but he is perhaps best known for his site-specific installation pieces. Jones’ art renders the visual languages of his indigenous people utilizing ultra modern materials – animal patterns, weapons, and woodcarvings reinterpreted in fluorescent light forms. For the 18th Biennale of Sydney (2012), Jones explores Sydney Harbor’s largest landmass, Cockatoo Island, as a collision point of colonial and indigenous cultures. The area’s layers of indigenous, imperial, and industrial history make it a unique stage for contemporary art and a compelling site for the Biennale of Sydney.

Directed by Nick Marzano. Director of Photography: Tim Tregoning, Camera Assistant: Julian Tynan, Editorial Lead: Romy Uebel, Production: Laura Brent, Editing: Merrick Van Asselt, Color Correction: Dylan Munro, Music by Bunnystripes.