Exhibition: Going in a Different Direction by Jason Turner

This exhibition of paintings by Jason Turner, is curated by Dr Dominic Thorpe and runs at KCAT Arts Centre from 21 June to 19 July 2024

The exhibition will be officially launched by Rachel Parry, artist and collaborator, on Friday the 21 June 2024 at 2pm. You can also meet the artist and curator for a talk on the 4 July at 11:30am at KCAT Arts Centre, copies of a full-colour publication will be available for purchase.

Jason Turner has been a member of the KCAT Studio since 2006 where he has developed a dedicated painting practice, having previously worked in willow weaving and wood carving. He has shown in several international exhibitions, including at the Freight Gallery Fremantle Australia, Project Ability Gallery Glasgow Scotland, Kunsthaus Kannen Museum for Outsider Art Munster Germany, Gallery Prabelli Wiltz Luxembourg, and Kaarisilta Gallery Helsinki Finland. He has also shown extensively in Ireland, including at Farmleigh House Galleries Dublin, Riverbank Arts Centre Newbridge, Crawford Art Gallery Cork, Butler Gallery Kilkenny, Jennings Gallery University College Cork, F.E. McWilliam Gallery Banbridge, and Uillinn: West Cork Arts Centre.

Jason’s work has been featured alongside the work of his KCAT colleagues in the feature documentary Living Colour by WildFire Productions. His work and practice have also been documented in publications such as The Engagement Project KCAT (2014-2020), Works on Paper (2008), Art & Inclusion: The Story of KCAT (2009), and Peer to Peer (2007).

Turner has developed several series of works, each with its own distinct point of focus, his space-scape paintings demonstrate the creativity and freedom of expression required to imagine entire planets into existence and bring them close enough to see their unique textures and intensity of colours. Jason’s practice itself is a deeply contemplative one. His work is developed over long periods of time and through a slow-paced and highly measured process of observation, mark making, and reflection.

His working process is particularly evident in the paintings of birds that Jason creates. These beautifully rendered, colourful, and sensitive works are a testament to the skill and thoughtfulness of Jason’s work. Jason’s practice is grounded in a recognition that we all have a responsibility to ourselves, to be active in the world in a way that affirms our own voice and sense of self-worth. As Jason states, “If I didn’t do art I’d be letting myself down”.