Martin Wilson

Martin Wilson is a Cape Town-based artist, an electronic engineer and part-time lecturer. Originally from Durban, he moved to Cape Town to study at the University of Cape Town – obtaining both a Masters degree in Electronic Engineering (2011) and a Bachelor in Fine Art (2015, with distinction).

Wilson works in a diverse range of media (including immersive planetarium projection, interactive electronic art installations, and contemporary sculpture), and frequently collaborates with local and international artists, galleries and museums.

Conceptually, Wilson’s artistic practice is still deeply entangled with scientific enquiry – simultaneously adopting and critiquing its methods and values. In particular, his work often seeks to question the legitimacy of any true objective knowledge in our chaotic and unpredictable world and to emphasize the inherent limits of human perception and comprehension.

His most recent sculptural works are constructed from non-traditional carbon-based materials such as organic remains, ash, charcoal, graphite and oil. These fragile but imposing objects reference the visual languages of archaeology, geology, and museum display in order to explore the disquiet spaces wedged between rational knowledge production, enchanted curiosity, and the horror of the unknown.

Wilson most recently exhibited at the Spier Light & Art Festival (Stellenbosch), the Castle of Good Hope (Cape Town), and La Gaîté-Lyrique (Paris, France).

Martin Wilson, in collaboration with Kyu Sang Lee  is featured in the Zeitz MOCAA exhibition,  Still Here Tomorrow To High Five You Yesterday (2019).