The desired effect of visiting an art exhibition: get lost, escape from reality … whatever the final destination, whatever the journey can lead to. Jess Johnson‘s latest show completely disturbs its visitors’ senses through a stunning immersion into a psychedelic, vivid other-world.

A New Zealand native, the Melbourne-based artist uses Occulus Rift to engulf your sensory faculties; developing an unexpected experience inspired by distorted realities, spirituality, filmmaker Alejandro Jodorowsky — fused by her hypnotic futurist comic book aesthetic. You needn’t quit the galaxy to land in a sci-fi universe with Johnson’s obsessive, intriguing sense of cosmic graphism.

Dubbed Ixian Gate, this new animation is invaded by unknown shapes and figures that propels virtual art to its highest expression; stereoscopic sound included. Impressive, precise drawings that deal with a mix of pop culture, and the aforementioned otherworldly influences, surround the central VR pod. It’s at once abstract and totally clear; symbolic referencing and architectural allusions making strange sense of our very own reality.

Jess Johnson, Wurm Haus runs till 28 Feb at National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne.

@ngvmelbourne

Installation views of Jess Johnson: Wurm Haus at NGV International.
Photography, Tobias Titz

Jess Johnson, New Zealander 1979–, Ixian Gate 2015 (stills)
colour virtual reality animation, sound. 5 min 35 sec
© Jess Johnson courtesy of Darren Knight Gallery, Sydney; and Ivan Anthony Gallery, Auckland

Installation view of Jess Johnson: Wurm Haus at NGV International.
Photography, Tobias Titz