Broadly the subject matter of both artists is situated in the maritime world. Jasper creates large scale images of ports; their cranes, boxes, tugboats, and docks. What characterises his works is an interest in the immense spatial qualities of these portals to a country. The work talks to international commerce and trade and the way in which packages and items are shipped around the world. The works themselves are made, in part, from real packing cases which invest the work with a history of shippage directly.
Oliver's work is a romantic metaphor for Jasper's work. Instead of the commodity Oliver has recreated the sorts
of gifts sailor's presented to their wifes and lovers waiting at home. Through luxurious materials, such as shell,
ivory, gold, wood, brass and silk he has made objects which are decorative, intimate and personal. The craftsman
in this show is indeed not Oliver but an imaginary sailor using the materials at hand, like scrimshawed whale teeth
and wittled wood.
