Alan Dearling travels with his camera to see Jason and the Adventure of 254 and Being Human
Visually stunning, and superbly and lovingly curated with plenty of humorous, thought-provoking diary-boards from artist, Jason Wilsher-Mills. Jason and the Adventure of 254 is an extraordinary and joyous personal journey of one man’s childhood illnesses, disability and creativity as a response to adversity. It’s tongue-in-cheek – playful. Magical and life-affirming. Since the walls of Jason’s Gallery literally share his personal journey through his models, cartoon illustrations and diary words, I will let them tell Jason’s ‘story’. And, it’s a really great one, even though it feels odd and paradoxical to be ‘enjoying’ tales of a body losing its immune system whilst being attacked by measles and more, leaving poor Jason debilitated. But his spirit of fun and humour grew even stronger. The Jason Gallery has been transformed into a hospital ward with the dominant, massive central figure of Jason in bed, with his body being attacked by toy soldiers. Absolutely surreal!
“The work is like a form of time-travel where you can still experience something you felt as a child. For me the hospital is not just about trauma, if it is at all. It’s about the opportunity which was afforded to me through education and support from my family. The show is about childhood, family, but it’s also about how creativity works and where it comes from.” Jason Wilsher-Mills, 2024
Adjoining the show gallery of Jason’s artworks, is a separate exhibition, which also features images, sculptures and artworks about ‘Being Human’. Once again, plenty to cogitate on…
The Wellcome Collection is located at 186 Euston Road in London, opposite Euston Station.
There are many stimulating and informative exhibitions throughout the extensive building about health and body-related issues of all kinds. At their heart is how ‘cultures’ fashion and create different perspectives to our bodies, beliefs, medicine, drugs and their uses. Meaning, essentially that drug use and responses to it, are socially and culturally situated.
All the shows and events are free. And, the core show changes usually a couple of times each year.