Gilda Jones

BOXedOUT was supported by the City of Melbourne Arts Grants Program ($11,000) and by MPavillion 2024 ($2,000)

BOXedOUT 2024

This collaborative dance film project was spearheaded by myself with the help of the following practitioners: Amber McCartney (choreographer/dancer), Kyall Shanks (Dancer), Ruby Willis (Music producer) and Gracie Dephoff (Cinematographer). The film invites viewers on a mesmerizing journey through a high-intensity dance duet unfolding within a boxing ring, seamlessly blending the grace and precision of dance with the raw energy of a fight, thus transcending traditional boundaries of movement and art.

The screening occurred at the 2023 MPavilion, designed by Tadao Ando, utilising multiple screens, each representing a distinct 'round' of the boxing match.

Drawing a connection to Tadao Ando's personal journey from professional boxer to architect, the artistic presentation gains added depth through this synergy, offering an immersive experience where viewers can appreciate the fusion of movement, space, and storytelling.

For the project, I handled all marketing graphics and visualisations.

Image credit: Giulia Giannini McGauran

Connecting the Dots by Garry Emery 2023

This project is now a part of the permanent collection of MA-g (The Museum of Avant-garde)

Presented below are a series of animations crafted in collaboration with graphic designer Garry Emery. These animations were conceived to promote his recently published book, ‘Connecting the Dots’. The creative process was both enjoyable and innovative. We commenced with a static graphic as our foundation and embarked on a journey to infuse it with emotion and humor. The process was highly organic, marked by extensive experimentation. Our ultimate aim was singular: to captivate the audience and prompt them to interact with the distinct shapes and elements of the static design in novel ways.

I was engaged by MGS Architects to direct and edit a series of short documentary films for their exhibition ‘Thinking of You’: Projects by MGS Architects. This process involved filming and interviewing inhabitants of the firm's projects, embedding these interviews among stills and footage of the designed spaces.

‘This exhibition asks: ‘what happens after a project is turned over to the people who use it?’ It asks us to be in solidarity with those people; foregrounding their voices through resident interviews and other interactive displays giving visitors an insight into the collaborative, process-driven approach of the practice.

’’Key projects […] include innovative community housing, education and urban precinct redesign. These demonstrate the practice’s commitment to creating places that meet the demands of living well and living sustainably, coupled with the desire for individual expression and the need for community.’

Thinking of You: Projects by MGS Architects 2023

Thinking of You: Projects by MGS Architects. Videos by Gilda Jones

Image credit: John Gollings

Thinking of You: Projects by MGS Architects

Alphabet redesign with Garry Emery 2022

This was a fun collaborative project with Garry Emery, where we set out to redesign the alphabet—an immensely challenging task. Our goal was to examine the components of an alphabet, its recognisability, and the features that aid people in identifying it. We then scrutinized each letter, endeavoring to simplify it as much as possible, pushing it to the point of abstraction, while ensuring that its recognizable elements remained intact albeit diminished in form. Below is what we came up with.

Rug series 2019/2023

This is a series of rugs that I've illustrated and had manufactured for clients. My aim was to push the boundaries of conventional rug shapes whilst introduing warmth and fun into the designs. Initially, I considered the spatial requirements. For the rug titled 'Dude,' designed for a living room, I envisioned something that would embrace the space with playful limbs. As for the second rug, 'Echidna,' I aimed to reinterpret the traditional concept of a bear rug typically found in chalets, softening its aesthetic. The clients desired an Australian-centric theme for their hallway, so we settled on an echidna lying on its back, positioned to greet visitors as they entered. Collaborating closely with both manufacturers and clients, we meticulously selected colours, pile heights, and refined designs to perfectly complement the space and meet the brief.

Dear Diary 2021

Explore my personal illustration journal, a window into my creative process. Most of these drawings were made during the Covid-19 pandemic as daily exercises. Drawing has always been central to my practice, serving as my preferred outlet for creativity and as a way to express ideas for larger projects.

Below, you'll find two flip books I created. In the initial drawing, I included a slit at the mouth opening. Using paper, I fashioned a tongue with a cardboard handle, allowing it to be smoothly moved up and down for animation. This playful addition breathes even more life and movement into the original drawings.

Flip books 2021

Logo design 2023

In 2023, I set out to create a logo and a set of assets for my personal website, which primarily featured my film and moving image projects. My aim was to integrate the widely recognized 16:9 screen aspect ratio, reflecting the standard format through which most screen and cinema content is consumed.

Starting with my name, I experimented with various arrangements within the 16:9 rectangular shape. I was drawn to the idea of partially obscuring the letters while leaving space within the logo for showcasing footage. It maintains readability of my name while offering a central area for displaying video content.

In the below iteration we see the idea behind the logo come to life with the film embedded in the center.

Various 2020-2023

‘Stumpy 2’ stool turned and oiled yellowbox

Made with Sam Blomley

‘Stumpy’ stool turned and waxed douglas fir

Made with Sam Blomley

‘Untitled #2’ vase hand built white raku clay, clear glaze

‘Untitled #1’ vase hand built buff raku clay, pink slip