REVIEW: Mesmerising new work from local painter

Friday 05 October 2018

An electrifying colour palette, elusive figures and investigations of shallows and depth are all brought together in Jason Butler’s new exhibition, ‘Where Our Shadows Were’.

Butler’s expansive canvases invite a viewer in to follow the glimpses of figures, muffled and revealed by abstracted landscapes in this instinctive show.

In a welcome new trajectory from his more considered and precise work displayed in his 2016 show ‘Seekers’, Butler’s new collection evokes the confidence of a seasoned artist without losing the whispering vulnerability which pervades each of the works.

Abstracted yet not inaccessible, Butler’s new work lingers somewhere between obscurity and clarity. This exhibition doesn’t mark a sea-change, but rather a coming in of the tide, awash with colour, vigour and movement. 

The more monumental, larger works assert their storytelling swagger into and across the space, whilst the smaller pieces take their time – providing pause for reflection in the presence of this staggering collection. 

Video: Jason Butler tells Express about his new exhibition 'Where Our Shadows Were'.

The fact that Butler is a much celebrated artist locally, nationally and internationally, having gained much recognition on social media platform Instagram, comes as no surprise when visiting his latest exhibition.

The pieces exhibited in ‘Where Our Shadows Were’ feel honest but complexed as they create intricate dialogues with one another and with the viewer.

When walking round this exhibition, you can’t help but feel that Butler’s career has been building up to this moment – but no doubt, he will always find ways to raise the bar even higher.

Don’t miss ‘Where Our Shadows Were’ which will be open until 27 October in 10 Commercial Buildings, next to Norman Trade Centre from 10:00 until 17:30 Monday to Saturday.