'Going in a different Direction'.Retrospective Exhibition by Jason Turner.

                                                                                                      Turkey, Acrylic on Canvas, 60X45cm, 2020

                                                                                              Herring Gull, Acrylic on Canvas, 61X51cm, 2017.

                                                                                                                                                        Love Birds, Acrylic on paper, 38X51cm, 2020.

Jason Turner –

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 Wild Fire 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. For example, 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. These works resonate with the contemplation, wonder, and wishes that humans have offered up to space for millennia. Equally, 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. They celebrate the beauty he innately observes within nature, and they remind us of our ethical responsibility to the natural world. Ultimately, however, Jason’s practice is firstly 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”.

                                                                                       Earth from Moon, Acrylic on Canvas, 100X100 cm, 2011.

                                                                                                           Planets section, Retrospective Exhibition, 2024.

                                                                                                       Bird section with viewers, Retrospective Exhibition, 2024.

                                                                                                                 Jason signing his new book.