Jess Taylor
Artist Statement // The series ‘Year Zero’ explores the notion of a time that comes at the death of one type of order before the birth of another. Year Zero is often a term used to denote the time period after one regime falls and before a new order can be established; a time of pause and unease, a time of potential, a precipice to stand on before taking the plunge into the new. I found it an apt metaphor for where I am in my life now, standing in the rubble of my past relationship and life, pausing before I begin to rebuild a life anew, to construct an order of my own. It has been a time to take stock of the demise of that relationship, what I have lost through its ending and what I now gain on my own.
Realised across three sculptural works, I call on symbols of justice, the heavens and worship to mourn dreams unrealised, speak to the possibilities and pitfalls of intimacy and take and test the weight of judgement that had been meted out onto me. In doing so, my work seeks to speak to experiences both personal and shared.
Jess Taylor is an artist who lives and works on Kaurna land. Taylor's work explores her fascination with fictional horror through primarily digital methods of making, with a focus on concepts of the monstrous, voyeurism, and depictions of female brutality, sadism, and masochism. Taylor sees horror as a genre that interrogates and reveals our darkest cultural norms, and whose women offer powerful tales of suffering, empowerment and retribution. Taylor’s works run the gamut between immersive virtual environments, video, photography, and intricate 3D printed and fabricated objects, extending on the rich history between technology and the terrible. Graduating with honours from Adelaide Central School of Art in 2013, Taylor completed a Masters by Research in 2018. Taylor has exhibited nationally, holding solo exhibitions in a number of galleries including FELTspace, Seventh gallery and Hugo Michell Gallery. She has been a finalist and awardee in several art prizes. Taylor currently works out of her home studio and lecturers at Adelaide Central School of Art.
Caitlin Eyre writes about Jess Taylor in Neoterica 2024.
Jess Taylor, Year Zero, 2024, 3D printed resin, dye, paint metallic gold leaf and gold plated chain, dimensions variable
Jess Taylor, Year Zero (On the square, on the level), 2024, 3D printed resin, dye,paint metallic gold leaf and gold plated chain, dimensions variable. Sam Roberts Photography.
