Yellow Spiral Console
2010
duct-tape, vellum
91.5x91.5 cm (36x36")

Collection of
Haydn Shaughnessy and Roos Demol, Cork County Ireland


circuitry
I am currently exploring duct-tape and new technologies concerning it. I subvert it by utilizing it alongside traditional mediums such as paper, vellum and Tyvek. I also want to navigate the similarities of computer motherboards, traffic patterns, street maps, and ancient architectural ruins. I interpret them in ways to draw the viewer into dialog, continuing explorations of methodologies and relationships. Though linearly based, these works allude to organic structuring, fractals.

I suggest, that this marriage between duct-tape and vellum is total debauchery. It's play on materials, textures and colors furthers my premise as an artist of working with opposition in every way possible. This multi-layering and sometimes grafting of colors refer to different ideologies within each piece, inflating the notion of a universe where subversives become part of the fabric of what is a known truth but instead of causing it to unravel, they make the weak parts stronger.

Primarily, my work involves the idea of chaos from order and order from chaos through historical and personal context. As a post-modernist abstract artist, I am informed by existing aesthetic constructs that can be historically referenced. Opportunity is imbued the viewer to continue this conversation of past, present, and on-going dialogs of aesthetic theory to a uniquely personal level.
By nuancing my work with color, construct, and composition, I empower the viewer's involvement allowing them to give form to the indiscriminate areas that evolve in my work.

I'm known for working with unusual types of mediums. Along with regulars like acrylic, ink, conte, canvas, and paper, my range includes Tyvek, mylar, vellum, as well as, duct-tapes and urethane plastics.

Series: "Cosmos," "Circuitry," "Miniature Clothing Project" (Communion), and "Operation Sweet Ride" (Moto) are some of my most important projects/series to date. Be sure and check out "Indexing" also if you get a chance.

My work has been exhibited nationally as well as internationally including Canada, Costa Rica, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom.

Jon Coffelt