Jason McLean
Born in London Ontario, Jason McLean first studied art at the H. B. Beal Art program, going on to graduate from the Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design in 1997. Recently, after close to 20 years of developing his practice in Vancouver, McLean moved back to Toronto to pursue a larger range of artistic possibilities.
McLean was chosen by MacLean’s Magazine as one of the top ten visual artists to watch for in Canada. His work has been displayed at Colette, Paris; Richard Heller Gallery, Los Angeles; Mother's Tank Station, Dublin; Bee Studios, Tokyo; Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art, Toronto; Neon Gallery, Brosarp, Sweden; Spencer-Brownstone Gallery, NY; Abel Neue Kunst Gallery, Berlin.Perugi Art Contemporenea, Padova, Italy; Fondazione Bevilacqua La Masa, Venice.
His work has been featured in many important magazine such as Modern Painters, Flash Art, Border Crossings, Adbusters, and I.D.N. magazine. He also has had a published book project with Nieves Books, Switzerland and has submitted drawings to other publications such as Nog A Dod, Montreal/NYC, Glomp #9, Finland and the Ganzfeld #5 Japan.
Artist Statement:
I do like to deface things. Some people think it's destructive, but I think I'm giving new life to old stuff, and who knows— down the road, someone else might draw over something I worked on, adding even another life to it.
Working on antique ephemera that have a life of their own, such as aged objects like postcards, (which for the LOLA fest depict scenes of the historical military monuments within Victoria Park drawn over with symbols and patterns) allows the viewer to revisit the park allowing them to change their outlook on local histories and spaces.
My work is a form of visual reportage that registers sights, sounds, personal histories, vernacular expressions and insights to the everyday experiences that lead me to where I am.
Project: Antique ephemera that have a life of their own, like aged postcards, are often the canvas from which McLean begins his artistic departures. The images in this series depict historic scenes of the military monuments within Victoria Park which are customized with McLean’s signature symbols and patterns, prompting the viewer to revisit the park and perhaps refocus their outlook on local histories and spaces.
Pattison Billboard Location: York St 150 Ft W/O Clarence St. NS F/W ('Cebos at Seigels')
Pattison Light Box Locations: Richmond Street 110 ft N/O Carling Street WS F/N York Street 150 ft W/O Clarence Street NS F/E Clarence Street 125 ft N/O Dundas Street WS F/S Clarence Street 190 ft N/O York Street WS F/N - (PH2) King Street 285ft E/O Talbot Street SS F/W - (PH2) Talbot Street N/O York Street ES F/N - (PH2)
