TERMINUS is a Virtual Reality experience in five parts—an arcane world illustrated over several years through drawings by Jess Johnson, brought to life by Simon Ward and developer Kenny Smith, and enriched with soundtracks by composer Andrew Clarke.

Originally commissioned by the National Gallery of Australia and The Balnaves Foundation, TERMINUS launched in 2018 as the centrepiece of a major exhibition by Johnson and Ward at the NGA. In the original presentation, each of the five parts were housed in their own bespoke architectural structure, situated on a full-scale tessellated floor map. The TERMINUS exhibition is now touring several cities in Australasia; the TERMINUS VR Experience is now available for purchase on the Oculus Store for the Rift, and via Steam for Vive, Valve Index, and Rift.

Prepare yourself for a slippage of time and space as your journey propels you across five distinct realms: cross the frontier through Fleshold Crossing; take respite in Known Unknown; lose yourself within Scumm Engine; face impending danger in the tower of Gog & Magog; and experience the brink of sensory overload in the psychedelic Tumblewych. The mysteries of what you ultimately seek will be revealed: an understanding that reality is not fixed but rather both malleable and multiple.

 
“If you enjoy lucid dreaming and long for some virtual unreality your cup will truly runneth over.”
— Richard O'Brien, Rocky Horror Show
 

Terminus Artist Interview: Jess Johnson & Simon Ward

PRESS for TERMINUS

Lyon, Hester. “TERMINUS at Heide Museum of Modern Art,” Vault: Australasian Art & Culture (website), January 2020.

Wallen, Doug. “A Surreal Psychedelic VR Adventure Comes to Heide,” Broadsheet (website), 14 November 2019.

Smith, Andy. “Jess Johnson, Simon Ward Bring ‘TERMINUS’ to Heide Museum,” Hi-Fructose (website), November 6, 2019.

Frasier, Suzanne. “TERMINUS: Jess Johnson and Simon Ward,” Un Projects, September 27, 2018.

Amery, Mark. “Creating New Worlds - Jess Johnston & Simon Ward,” Radio New Zealand Interview, June 2018.

Babington, Jaklyn. TERMINUS Artist Interview, National Gallery of Australia, May 2018.

Gordan, Margaret. “Surreal virtual reality show TERMINUS moves viewers to tears,” Sydney Morning Herald, May 2018.

Hills Duty, Rebecca. “New surreal VR exhibit TERMINUS opens at National Gallery Australia,” VR Focus, May 2018.

Black, Michael. “Tour the trippy world of virtual reality with TERMINUS at National Gallery,” ABC News, May 2018.

Gordan, Margaret. “Mind bending virtual reality work opens at National Gallery,” Fairfax Video, May 2018.