JP’s work is created using a technique that he first developed 20 years ago at school (Picture: Ben Cook)
A one-night only art exhibition is set to help deaf people experience music and sound through a groundbreaking technique.
Called Sound Portraits, the show will be held in Manchester on 24 May, presenting more than 50 artworks, etchings, prints and light installations by artist and musician JP Jones, who has toured with the likes of Guns N’ Roses and The Script.
Talking to Metro.co.uk, the artist says he pioneered the technique more than 20 years ago while at art school. ‘My aim was to enable deaf people to experience music sound visually as I wanted to combine art and music,’ he explains.
‘I played around with bits of mirror on speakers, laser pens and laser beams, and created this moving light projection that reflected from a speaker. I took it to the Deaf Institute so people could interact with microphones to see the vibrations as they felt them inside.
‘Seeing their responses was really emotional; pure joy and happiness. They could literally see their own voice.
‘People told me it was a brand new and incredible experience. The whole thing is just a celebration of sound.’
‘Pull Up To The Bumper’ (Picture: Ben Cook)
As well as capturing rock n roll royalty, JP has had his own taste of the industry (Picture: Ben Cook)
After taking his method to the canvas, JP now combines laser kinetics with sound to create patterns, shapes and lines representative of the original acoustic. This can range from pop hits, phrases like ‘I love you’, or speeches by historical figures, such as Martin Luther King and Winston Churchill.
He then applies mass layering techniques, vibrant colours and a variety of textures to produce each painting.
The 44-year-old artist, who lives between Sydney, Australia and South Wales, has produced a number of works based on musical icons. Taking the music of stars like Prince, Madonna, Oasis, Grace Jones and Elton John, JP paints the sound patterns of the song on canvas, and adds the musician’s image over the top.
His portraits have been a hit with the glitterati; Boy George, Orlando Bloom and the Rothschild family have bought his artwork for their walls.
As well as capturing rock ‘n’ roll royalty, JP Jones has had his own taste of the industry, having toured all over the world with band Grace and has collaborated with singer Chrissie Hynde, as JP, Chrissie & the Fairground Boys.
He has also written songs for Cher and Paloma faith, and toured with the Foals and the Script – although when asked what that was like, he’s very clear that what happens on tour stays on tour.
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‘I had a good time’, is all JP will say of his time with the greats.
Now he’s swapped his pick for a paintbrush, JP says he is looking forward to the show. ‘I am hugely excited to bring Sounds Portraits to Manchester,’ he says. ‘Music and art are my two great passions so being able to combine the two so intricately and to create such personal, bespoke pieces for people is amazing.’
A percentage of sales from the exhibition will be donated to Manchester Deaf Centre (MDC) to pay for art supplies for a workshop for the MDC ‘Young Peoples Group’ by JP Jones on Thursday 22 June, to enable young deaf people to visually experience sound through art.
JP Jones ‘Sound Portraits’ exhibition on Wednesday 24 May will be held between 6.30-10pm Ducie Street Warehouse, Ducie Street, Manchester M1 2TP – Native Places Property.
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‘My aim was to enable deaf people to experience music sound visually.’
