Unionnale
Presenting Aura by Jason Zante
In partnership with the City of Toronto
You say ale, we say alley. Inspired by the streets and alleys of Toronto decked with art, Unionnale is a space envisioned to animate the south corridor of the Union Market with art by local artists. The space was created as a special art “alley” which provides visual storytelling and interest through a fun and creative artistic moment in the heart of Union Station. As part of Union’s continuing contemporary programming, the public art in Unionnale will rotate every two years, with artists chosen through a juried selection process. Unionnale is part of the City of Toronto’s public art initiative.
Aura by Jason Zante
Aura explores the power of biophilic imagery, its positive effects on the mind and the role of our environment in our daily lives. The ephemeral moments of the seasons are captured through arrangements of lush blooms, asserting their dominance in the space. Each embodies an aura of coloured emanations in intense hues. The imbued belief of spirited qualities surrounding living things is seen through vibrant expressions. Inspired by neuroaesthetics and the positive physiological responses from nature-derived imagery, these digital works encourage viewers to pause and have a brief release from the realities and tensions of life. Butterfly milkweed, blue false indigo, pale purple cone flowers, and staghorn sumac line the walls of the space, with a grand maple tree that towers above the ceiling. Its bark, composed of a web of intricate and winding patterns, creates veins of connections. This complex tapestry is a dynamic viewing experience where spectators can find solace and renewal through botanical and natural patterns. It emulates the feeling of walking in a garden, a park or a forest. In this instance, staring at an image becomes a vehicle for rejuvenation, and the installation is a natural sanctuary for wonder and awe. Aura becomes a dialogue between our ecological landscape and mental well-being, an interconnectedness of our relationship with ourselves and our surroundings. It is not just a visual escape but a return to the environment.
About the Artist
Jason Zante (b. 1998 Aklan, Philippines) is a Filipino-Canadian artist based in Toronto, Canada. With a multidisciplinary background, he creates large-scale mural installations, paintings, and digital illustrations. His work embraces escapism, capturing nature’s essence to depict the liminal space between reality and imagination. Exploring themes of biophilia, surrealism, and landscapes, his works use visual metaphors to personify plants, shapes, and symbols in his multilayered narratives. His bold and saturated approach to colour has a transformative effect on both the environment and the viewer. Zante’s creative process involves both digital and traditional methods. He builds his works in layers by adding, subtracting, covering, and revealing using digital tools and acrylic mediums. Zante earned a Bachelor of Design at OCAD University and has created notable site-specific commissions including a mural for The Four Seasons Hotel Toronto (2021) and a 1200-squarefoot mural for Fallsview Casino Resorts in Niagara Falls (2022). Works by the artist are in prestigious and private collections, including TD Bank of Canada, CIBC, Bentallgreenoak, Cboe Global Markets, and Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts. His clients include Justin Bieber, The Globe & Mail, NBA Canada, Klick Health, Deciem, and the Government of Canada.
About Union
Union is committed to reflecting the diversity of Canadians in all our programs and operations. Our programming vision encourages and celebrates creativity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility. Our goal is to strengthen the connection between public art and civic engagement ultimately striving to create connectedness amongst our communities.
About the City of Toronto
The City of Toronto The City of Toronto’s Public Art Strategy outlines the City’s commitment to public art created for, and with the input of, Toronto communities, and to create opportunities for artists of diverse backgrounds, experience and practice. The Public Art Strategy recommends opportunities for temporary public art and career-development.
