Chris R. C. Jones (British, b. 1986) - Data-painting, Mixed-media assemblage on panel
QUICK FACTS
Type
Museum Object
Categories
Era
c. 2015-2025
Origin
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
Artist/Maker
Chris R. C. Jones
Rarity
Scarce (6/10)
Discovered
Jan 25, 2026
1 months ago
DESCRIPTION
This is a significant mixed-media assemblage, consistent with the 'Data-paintings' series by the British contemporary artist Chris R. C. Jones. The work presents a dense, almost geological field of vertically arrayed paper strips, sourced from what appear to be financial statements, tickets, and other ephemera of daily life. These fragments are punctuated by embedded found objects, most notably vintage digital clock displays. The entire composition is encased in a thick, high-gloss layer of epoxy resin, creating a surface that is both artifact and vitrine. The visual effect moves between a shimmering, abstract color field from a distance and a dense, archaeological record of information upon closer inspection.
CULTURAL ECHOES
Where This Object Echoes
The work's use of accumulation and found objects directly echoes the strategies of artists like Arman, who created sculptures from vast quantities of identical consumer items.
The layered, dense composition mimics archaeological strata or ice core samples, where layers of sediment reveal a history of a specific time and place.
The piece is a physical manifestation of abstract digital concepts like 'big data', information overload, and the permanence of our digital footprint.
Ritual & Ceremonial Use
- •The ritual of shredding documents for security is subverted here, transforming a protective act of destruction into a creative act of preservation.
- •The work reflects the collecting culture of contemporary art, where conceptual depth and unique material execution are highly valued.
Meaning Through Time
Junk mail and bank statements were ephemeral, disposable annoyances.
In this artwork, the same materials become permanent artistic media, representing a 'fossil record' of a person's life and economic activity.
HISTORICAL STORY
DID YOU KNOW?
The artist refers to these works as 'Data-paintings', using shredded personal and financial documents to create a tangible portrait of our digital lives.
The embedded electronic components, like the clocks, are often salvaged from obsolete technology, creating a 'fossil record' of a specific technological moment.
MATERIAL & CONDITION
Surface
A high-gloss, heavily impasto-like surface created by a thick pour of epoxy resin, beneath which lie thousands of vertically oriented paper strata. The effect is both slickly industrial and organically sedimentary, with trapped air bubbles and varied reflectivity from holographic and matte papers.
Weight & Feel
Extremely substantial and unwieldy. A work of this large scale on a wood or composite panel with a thick layer of resin would require professional handling and significant wall support, likely weighing well over 100-150 lbs (45-68 kg).
Condition
The artwork appears to be in excellent gallery condition from the images provided. The resin surface seems glossy and intact, with no major yellowing, scratches, or delamination visible. The embedded objects appear secure within the matrix.
RARITY ANALYSIS
Genuinely harder to find. Perhaps only dozens come to market annually. Collectors actively watch for these pieces.
Typical Characteristics
- Dozens per year at market
- Documented provenance valued
- Active collector pursuit
EXPERT ANALYSIS
Museum-Trained Art Historian
Confidence is high because the combination of materials, technique, and conceptual basis is exceptionally unique to the artist Chris R. C. Jones. It is not a generic style, making attribution based on visual evidence highly reliable.
KEY EVIDENCE
- 1The distinctive technique of using vertically oriented shredded paper as the primary compositional element.
- 2The inclusion of embedded electronic objects, specifically digital clock displays, a known signature of the artist.
- 3The encasement of the entire assemblage in a thick, high-gloss epoxy resin.
- 4The overall aesthetic and material choice are a direct and convincing match for the 'Data-paintings' series by Chris R. C. Jones.
- 5The large scale is typical of the artist's major works shown in galleries.
UNCERTAINTIES
- •The artist's signature, likely in the bottom right corner, is not legible in the provided photographs, preventing definitive confirmation.
WHAT WOULD IMPROVE CERTAINTY
- →Provide a high-resolution, close-up photograph of the signature in the lower right corner.
- →Photograph the reverse (verso) of the panel to check for artist's inscriptions, titles, dates, or gallery labels.
- →Consult the artwork's provenance documentation, such as the original bill of sale or gallery acquisition paperwork.
ESTIMATED VALUE
Updated: Feb 27, 2026
- Market comparables from auctions & retail
- Condition, completeness & craftsmanship
- Current collector demand & trends
- Low = quick sale, high = patient seller
For informational purposes only, not a formal appraisal.
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