Jon Fawcett’s devices, performances and videos are evolved from research into the technical and epistemological extremes of our wider world. A blending of spectral opposites, from secret service activities and precision engineering to new age spirituality and energy fields, his work is part de-romanticised sci-fi thriller, part epic clown act. Its implicit performativity unavoidably involves his audiences in its narrative, asking the question: Is this a fiction, or is this happening in my reality? If so, how does it change it? Such themes expand beyond the individual to the societal, exploring the politics of belief and the nature of freedom. Why do we desire adventure, and what do we seek from it?
Jon's last major show was at the Tate Modern in 2012 and since then Jon's practice has evolved to more long term and culturally diverse projects, including an unlimited editions curatorial project, an off-road car camping YouTube channel, and a home cheffing Instagram channel. Jon has numerous more gallery based projects he is interested in developing, such as a wall-based series of Tupperware assemblages based on gun barrel silhouettes, large-scale sculptural forms indicating non-physical structures, and some wall-based torsional field generators.
Solo Exhibitions
2012 Whum and EIR, Tate Modern Tanks, London
2010 Hearts and Minds, A Foundation, Liverpool
2005 New Entities, Elastic Residence Gallery, London
2002 Caught in a Trap, Space Station Sixty Five, London
2000 Wnetre (Interior), Inner Spaces Centre for Contemporary Art, Poznan, Poland
Selected Group Exhibtions
2012 Chekhov's Gun, g39, Cardiff
2011 Soundproof 4, Soundproof temporary project space, London
2011 Occultofest, Ausland, Berlin
2009 A Few Small Changes, h29, Brussels
2009 Underground City, Divus, London
2009 Prospero’s Library, Accademia di Belle Arti, Catania, Italy
2008 Bad Year Blimp, Alma Enterprises, London
2007 Future Map, The Arts Gallery, London
2007 Prospero’s Library, Central House of Artists, Moscow
2005 Real Estate, ICA, London
2004 Floatation, Wysing Arts, Cambridge
2004 Etak, Elastic Residence Gallery, London
2003 I Am a Curator, Chisenhale Gallery, London
2003 Performance, Forum Box, Helsinki
2002 Ancient Futures, Coed Hills Rural Art Space, Cardiff*
2002 Performance, Liverpool Biennial, Liverpool
2002 Performance, Backup Festival, Weimar, Germany
2000 Performance, Omsk, 333 Club, London
2000 Dolce Vita, Inner Spaces Centre for Contemporary Art, Poznan, Poland
1999 Art in Time, University of the Arts Gallery, Cardiff
Project Commissions
2017-19 Infinite Multiple, Westminster Business School
2012 Whum, Arts Council of England
2010 Hearts and Minds, Arts Council of England
2010 Game, Nicholas Berwin Foundation
2009 Blessor, Nicholas Berwin Foundation
2007 Wheel, Nicholas Berwin Foundation
2007 Transformer, Nicholas Berwin Foundation
2007 Aorist (N), Bonnighton Gallery, Nottingham
2005 Arc, Fierce!, Birmingham
2004 CLa, Arts Council of England, London
2004 Two Questions, Wysing Arts, Cambridge
2002 Caught in a Trap, Liveartmagazine, London
Performance Commissions
2004 No Jones (UPA4), You Are Here Festival, Nottingham
2003 Bus Stand (UPA3), Anti Festival, Kuopio, Finland
2003 Imbue (Interior), Live Art Development Agency, London
2003 Imbue (Interior), National Review of Live Art, Glasgow
2002 Imbue (Interior), Expo Festival, Nottingham
2002 There's No Turning Back, Coed Hills Rural Art Space, Cardiff
2002 Enchanter 2, Harringwoods Associates (Seven Dials Festival), London
2002 Imbue (Lance), Triskel Gallery, Cork, Ireland
2001 Paperworks, Hull Time Based Arts
Residencies
2003 Helsinki, Finland, HIAP and Arts Council of England
2002 Weimar, Germany, Backup Festival
2002 Cardiff, Coed Hills Rural Art Space
2000 Poznan, Poland, Inner Spaces Centre for Contemporary Art
Education
2007 MA Fine Art, Chelsea College of Art, London
2001 BA Visual Performance, Dartington College of Arts, Devon
1997 HND Sculpture, Carmarthen College of Technology and Art
1995 Art and Design Foundation, Cardiff College of Art, Cardiff