JASON WING: My name is Jason Wing.
I'm a multidisciplinary artist.
I work in all mediums.
And my main passion and focus is
empowering minority groups
in this colonised country.
Specifically for Aboriginal culture
but it extends to all minority groups essentially.

NAVA: What are you currently working on?

JASON WING: I'm really excited at the moment.
I have two exhibitions coming up.
And they're both on country
which for me is a complete blessing.
So, I have an exhibition coming up in five weeks
at Port Macquarie Art Gallery, the Glasshouse Gallery.
And that's responding to the 200 year anniversary of
Governor Macquarie in Port Macquarie.
So, my work is kind of...
telling a dual history
which is very underrepresented
in the Port Macquarie community.
And next year,
I have an exhibition at Manning Regional Gallery,
again on country, Taree.
And I'm making my first canoe with elders.
And a whole lot of other things.
So, it's... I'm really excited.
These are two real highlight exhibitions for me,
personally, artistically, and spiritually, and... Yeah.
I'm looking forward to it.


NAVA: How did you get started and maintain your career?

JASON WING: I was always an artist.
My kinaesthetic brain was wired that way.
My art school teacher was very influential
and suggested that I go to art school.
So, I went to Sydney College,
then studied graphic design degree.
And then my career basically started from
entering local competitions.
So, local art centre prizes.
And then gradually just, you know, over ten or so years,
just, you know, built up a career through prizes and public artworks
and, you know, seeing international shows.
And... Yeah, so I guess the main steps
were applying for as many prizes and competitions as you can.
And then that becomes a launch pad
for the next phase.

NAVA: What are some of the challenges you have experienced in your career?

JASON WING: The main challenges I've experienced through my career
is financial challenges.
Being an artist in Sydney is very difficult.
Because...
It seems the attitude towards the art from non-artists
seems to be "It's a luxury item".
And for us, that's not the case.
Art is integral but it's always money.
If the government funds the arts properly,
we can create amazing things.
We have the artists. We have the knowledge.
We can do it but we need the money.
Now, we need that money
on the bottom tier of the pyramid.
Not the top.
With arts including, you know,
"highbrow arts" that artists can't afford to go to.
So, you know, as far as I'm concerned,
the only challenge that artists face is financial support.
And, you know, once we have the money,
we can produce anything.