Jonathan McKinstry’s solo exhibition I like things I remember is a collection of paintings inspired by childhood memories of fun, games, and tasty treats. The paintings explore a nostalgia that comes from growing up while holding onto a love for pop culture from a time past.
This exhibition has been organised by Project Ability in collaboration with Glasgow International.
Iconic imagery from the 70s and 80s, including, Wimpy Burgers, My Little Pony and Star Wars are referenced, with the colours of branding and packaging used to invoke memories of McKinstry’s youth. Jonathan’s favourite childhood board games are featured too, like Operation, Buckaroo and Hungry Hippos. Action figures, one of Jonathan’s lasting loves, also play a part in the exhibition.
“It’s the most painting I have done in my life. I feel like I have achieved something and I hope people will like them”, says Jonathan. With the support of artist Jason Davis at the Project Ability studios, he has made a total of 27 individual artworks. “He’s that second guy, you know? A second pair of eyes” he says about Jason, appreciative of the support offered by the tutor, helping him select shades of red or even discussing shape and composition.
______________________________________________________________________________________
Below is a virtual gallery with photos of the exhibtion,
______________________________________________________________________________________
Most of the paintings are quite impressive in size (like Operation, which is 120x150cm) and are covered in bright, bold acrylics. The smaller paintings included in I like things I remember are in turn a mixture of watercolour, colour pencils and ink on paper, which make for dynamic and fun artworks in Jonathan’s distinctive style.
Jonathan has enjoyed the challenge that I like things I remember has been for him. The bigger canvases might seem daunting, but Jonathan has painted murals before so he has approached the task with a plan: “You can really slap a lot of paint into it. But I do a lot of like, rough thumbnail work and it’s not all chaos”.
Jonathan carries his most cherished memories through to adulthood and is still a massive fan of comics, Star Wars (Chewbacca being his favourite character) and attending Comic Con festivals. He remembers playing board games such as HeroQuest with his older brother, a shared childhood love for role-playing games the pair has taken into adulthood by spending evenings playing on the XBOX together.
McKinstry attends Project Ability’s Aspire programme for people with learning disabilities, where his practice has expanded thanks to the creative and supportive environment and his love for popular media makes people smile.
Below is a virtual gallery featuring the artworks,
Many of these artworks are available to purchase online and from the gallery at Trongate 103!
Artist visits!
During Glasgow International in June, Jonathan McKinstry will be in the gallery between 11am + 12pm on the following days: 11, 12, 14, 18, 19, 21.
Come by to say hello, test your pop culture trivia from the 80’s and speak with him about his paintings!
Opening Hours
Please note the exhibition opening hours will vary slightly during the time it will be on:
Friday 7 June – Sunday 23 July: Open Monday to Sunday, 11am to 5pm (Glasgow International festival hours)
Monday 24 June – Saturday 20 July: Open Wednesday to Saturday, 11am to 5pm (usual Project Ability hours)
About Jason Davis
Jason Davis, born in Paisley, Renfrewshire in 1973, is a figurative painter and sculptor who graduated from the Glasgow School of Art in 1996 with a degree in Fine Art, specializing in Sculpture. Since then, he has become known for his paintings and jewellery designs.
Jason’s work has been shown in various venues, including the RSA, Compass Gallery in Glasgow, Kumulus Gallery in Maastricht, and the World Trade Fair in Amsterdam. He has received several awards, such as the City of Glasgow Award, the Royal Glasgow Institute Award, the Mayfest Painting Prize, the McRoberts Award, and the McLaurin Art Award. His work is in many private and public collections around the world.
