Acclaimed disabled Yorkshire artist Jason Wilsher-Mills taught himself how to ‘embrace the pixel’ and use digital technology after disability caused by a childhood bout of chicken pox suddenly worsened. Aged 30 he had to leave his art teaching career and he decided to ‘paint his way’ back to supporting his family. His disability meant Jason could no longer paint with oils, so he picked up an iPad.
His large-scale, humorous and multi-hued artworks became sought-after and his exhibitions have toured the world. His latest show, Jason & His Argonauts, a 20-21 Visual Arts Centre Touring Exhibition which he describes as ‘activism in art form’, arrives at Wentworth Woodhouse on April 29.
Lightbox installations, wall hangings and intricately decorated fibreglass and inflatable sculptures celebrating disability and Jason’s Northern working-class heritage will be displayed on the ground floor and gardens of the Grade I listed stately home, making it fully accessible for all.
Ahead of the exhibition, Jason staged workshops for members of ArtWorks South Yorkshire, Rotherham Opportunity College and Sheffield-based Under The Stars – organisations which help adults with learning disabilities to achieve their potential.
They were taught by Jason how to create art with iPads and made striking digital images of their faces and favourite things.
“I used to make art about me – now I make it about the lives of people with disabilities and the inequality in our society,” said Jason, 54, of Wakefield. “The faces of people who took part in the workshops will be the first thing people see when they come to the exhibition. You matter – that’s what I’m trying to say.”
Jason will be attending on opening day and that first weekend (April 29/30) will feature Jason’s 3.5 metre-long inflatable Changing Places Argonaut – a sculpture created to support the Changing Places campaign , which calls on all large UK public venues to install fully-accessible toilets, equipped with height-adjustable changing benches and hoists.
A Changing Places building is being created next to the Camellia House in the Wentworth Woodhouse grounds and will be ready this summer
The exhibition will be on Saturday 29th April to Sunday 18th June, 10.00am-5.00pm. Find out more here.
