We live in a time when our minds constantly wander between past regrets and future anxieties, leaving us disconnected from the present that unfolds before us. Dan Oliver’s solo exhibition Moment at JPS Gallery Hong Kong explores this paradox through a series of contemplative paintings that capture fleeting instances of beauty and meaning discovered in the natural world.

Long walks in nature: Studio without walls

The exhibition’s origins date back to 2020, when the global pandemic prompted Oliver to establish a daily ritual of taking long walks. What began as a simple coping mechanism evolved into a profound artistic practice that continues today. These walks became Oliver’s studio without walls — a place where observation and reflection merge. During his time in nature, Oliver became acutely aware of how multiple realities coexist simultaneously: the stirring tales of animal endeavours, the rhythmic cycle of seasons, and nature’s perpetual dance of creation and destruction.

Observed in Nature, Reimagined in Memory

These intersecting realities form the foundation of Oliver’s work. Each painting begins with direct observation but transforms in the studio as memory and meaning intertwine. The resulting works transcend mere representation to become visual meditations on presence and perception.

In “The Next Morning”, a broken tree bearing the scars of a powerful storm becomes a poignant metaphor for human resilience in the face of adversity. Meanwhile, the snow resting delicately on a branch in “Branch and Snow” captures a moment of perfect stillness rarely experienced in our increasingly hectic lives.

Moment arrives at a time of turbulent change and conflict, yet Oliver’s paintings offer neither escape nor commentary on current events. Instead, they present an alternative perspective: that change itself—whether gentle or dramatic—harbours a beauty uniquely its own and can serve as a wellspring of resilience. More often than not, nature’s continuous transformations mirror our own experiences of loss, renewal, and adaptation. As the artist himself observes, “In nature we can forget ourselves, and see ourselves, both.”