2025 Exhibition

WHERE NATURE MEETS US

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This exhibition was held

from the 30th of June to the 3rd of August 2025

at the Higgin Gallery, Malone House

Barnett Demesne, Belfast

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ABOUT THE COLLECTION

 

 

Welcome to 'Where Nature Meets Us,' an exploration of identity forged through displacement and belonging. Jason's work invites us into a conversation between land, sea, and self; a dialogue profoundly shaped by his personal narrative. 

 

The exhibition commences with a poignant portrait of Seamus Heaney, establishing the collection's deep resonance with the spirit of Seamus Heaney's "Lovers of Aran."

 

From this contemplative beginning, we are swept into the waterscapes of the Philippines. Four vibrant pieces transport us to Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao, and the waters of Sebu. The blues are deep, and the waters imbued with the memory of warmth, evoking a sense of home and longing among those who have left the tropical archipelago. 

 

We then transition to the Irish coastline, with the majestic Great Pollet Sea Arch in Donegal and the iconic White Rocks in Portrush. Here, the colours shift, the light becomes softer, and the rugged beauty of a new environment begins to assert itself, signaling Jason's immersion into his adopted home.

 

The journey then takes a turn, exploring the metaphorical "Mother Sea" in an entirely different light. On an adjacent wall, we encounter six compelling portraits of women, representing various ethnicities: African, Chinese, Irish, Filipino, Persian and Scandinavian. Each woman embodies a different facet of "Inang Dagat"—Mother Sea—a powerful oriental concept representing sustenance, and the feminine spirit of the ocean. These portraits speak to the universal archetype of the life-giving force, an enduring presence that connects all cultures and shores. They highlight Jason's expanding worldview, acknowledging a global kinship that extends beyond national borders and the ultimate call to care for our warming oceans.

 

The narrative then brings water and land together through two distinct works. We see the tranquil beauty of the Minnowburn Bridge in Belfast, where the gentle flow of the stream meets the steadfastness of the land. Next is the Japanese Garden in Sir Thomas and Lady Dixon Park, where meticulously sculpted land and water features create a space for contemplation and balance.

 

Finally, the exhibition culminates in an embrace of the Northern Irish landscape. Here, the artist's eye is firmly on the ancient contours of this land where he hikes regularly. We are presented with commanding paintings of Divis and Black Mountain, Cave Hill, and The Mournes. These are deeply felt representations of a landscape that is becoming home. The collection concludes with three intimate paintings focusing on the artist's favourites, the resilient flora of these mountains—gorse and heather—small, vibrant details that signify the beauty found in endurance, and the quiet blossoming of a new life. 

 

"Where Nature Meets Us" is an exploration of the human search for belonging and connection to the space we inhabit. Much like the land and sea in Heaney's "Lovers of Aran," which continuously define each other, this exhibition invites us all to reflect on our own evolving connection to place and identity.