John Gillies

John Gillies is a Lecturer at the University of New South Wales within the Arts, Design & Architecture school, specializing in Time Based Art. He pioneered the teaching of Video Art in Australia and served as coordinator of the Time Based Art major for various degree programs including BFA, BFA/BA, BArtEd and MArt. Currently, he convenes courses DART1230 Moving Image 1 and DART2231 Moving Image 3: Advanced Practice.

His research interests span Time-based Art, Video Art, Experimental and Avant-garde Cinema, Gallery Installation, and Interdisciplinary Practice. Gillies' creative work frequently references cinema history while exploring new media forms. His practice integrates performance, moving image, installation, sound and music to create innovative artistic expressions that challenge conventional boundaries.

Gillies' artistic output shows a consistent trajectory from early experimental video works through to contemporary virtual reality projects. His film 'Witkacy & Malinowski: a cinematic séance in 23 scenes' premiered at the Sydney Film Festival in 2019, while his 2020 VR project 'Is this the Place?' demonstrates his continued engagement with emerging technologies. His work often examines historical narratives through contemporary media lenses.

• Creative Fellowship from the Australia Council for the Arts
• Australian Research Council Linkage Grant
• Long term board member of the Performance Space, Sydney

Gillies has supervised over 25 graduate students since 2003, including numerous MFA candidates and PhD students. His supervision spans diverse topics within time-based art, video practice, performance, and interdisciplinary approaches. He has also received grant funding for projects like the 'Experimental Virtual Reality Lab' in 2020. His creative works are held in major collections worldwide including the National Gallery of Australia, Queensland Art Gallery, Art Gallery of New South Wales, and Museum of Modern Art in New York.

His artistic practice extends to international exhibitions and curation, with works shown at Tate Modern, Museum of Contemporary Art Sydney, and festivals worldwide. Gillies maintains an active presence in both academic and artistic communities through his teaching, creative production, and curatorial work.