Aura, Jason Zante at Unionnale

In partnership with the City of Toronto

As part of Union’s ongoing commitment to placemaking and showcasing contemporary public art, Aura is part of Unionnale, a dedicated art corridor located in the south end of Union Market. Inspired by Toronto’s vibrant laneways and alleyways adorned with street art, Unionnale brings that same spirit of creativity and surprise into the station. Toronto Union collaborated with the City of Toronto through their combined city-wide public art initiatives, helping to animate the daily commute with dynamic, accessible, and thought-provoking works.

Zante’s site-specific works are a celebration of Ontario’s ecological richness. Drawing on his multidisciplinary practice, Aura brings together large-scale digital paintings across three major surfaces: a vaulted ceiling, the bench wall mural, and a series of art panels throughout the station.

It is not just a visual escape but a return to the environment. 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.

More information:

Artist website

Unionnale website