Exhibition exploring artist's story heads to town

Jason Wilsher-Mills displayed some of his inflatable sculptures in his garden in Sleaford, Lincolnshire, during the coronavirus pandemic

A vibrant exhibition featuring inflatable sculptures and colourful wallpapers is to open in Warwickshire over the summer.

The show by digital artist Jason Wilsher-Mills will be on at Rugby Art Gallery and Museum from Saturday until 7 September, as part of a touring exhibition.

Titled Jason and his Argonauts, it explores the artist's memories; popular culture from his childhood in the 1970s, as well as disability and access issues, said curators.

The first day kicks off with a day of free family activities, including some run by local artists, the gallery added.

Katie Boyce, pictured with the Changing Places Argonaut at Rugby Art Gallery

Jason Wilsher-Mills works with different communities around the country and uses tablets to produce large-scale detailed paintings.

He has described his work which includes lightbox installations and 3D-prints, as "think I, Daniel Blake meets The Beano".

The Wakefield-born artist has used a wheelchair since he was 11 after suffering damage to his central nervous system from contracting chickenpox.

A centrepiece of the show is the Changing Places Argonaut which highlights the campaign for better toilet facilities for people with disabilities.

It features tattoos and text of people's stories as well as the artist's own reflections from his teenage years.

"It's great exhibition," said Katie Boyce, of Rugby Art Gallery, as she prepared the displays for Saturday.

"I think it's important work and it makes you a bit more aware of making public spaces accessible to those with additional needs."

The senior exhibitions and programming officer said the artist's distinctive, brightly-coloured pieces "have a childlike, cartoonish quality" through which he explored his and other's experiences.

The artworks, which are part of 20-21 Visual Arts Centre touring exhibition, explore popular culture and the artist's memories

She added the exhibition had been made more accessible such as through audio descriptions, Makaton symbols and tactile exhibits.