Jason Wheatley: ILLUMINATED SILENCE: A STILL LIFE IN MOTION
Painting has always been a bridge for me, between the seen and the unseen, between what is still and what moves beneath the surface. In Illuminated Silence: A Still Life in Motion, I explore that threshold, where stillness hums with life and motion is felt rather than seen.
Jason Wheatley is drawn to the idea that still life is anything but still. In his paintings, wildlife is captured within the confines of still life, where birds pause in contemplation, animals are caught in moments of curiosity or mischief, and objects are arranged with a purposeful intention that suggests something has just happened or is about to unfold. Every element holds weight, offering a resonance that extends beyond its physical form.
His process involves layering both paint and meaning, weaving symbols that speak to a world beyond the material. A monkey gripping a ripe fruit embodies the trickster's role in the cosmic dance of chaos and order. A great white heron stands as a guardian between realms, while goldfish swim in impossible spaces, challenging the boundaries of perception. These compositions are carefully crafted, yet they invite discovery, revealing layers of meaning that evolve with each viewing. Wheatley's work serves as a reminder that nature is never separate from the art we create, but is interwoven with it, speaking in the language of silence.
Through these paintings, Jason Wheatley asks the viewer to pause, to engage with the liminal, and to consider what might be hidden in plain sight. Silence, in his work, is never empty—it is the space where the unseen takes shape.
