Artist in Residence — 2025
Shona Wilson.
Bridging Culture and Nature · Studio Practice · Ephemeral Land Art
From the visible to the invisible, natural phenomena inspire and help create Shona's work. Creating with nature's overlooked fragments brings her closer to understanding the world we share — these materials are storehouses of knowledge that act as keys, unlocking doors to memory, science, history and imagination.
Exploring the world through the myriad of natural found materials collected, observed or arranged in her day-to-day life is a continuing theme and motivation. Her work is an invitation to marvel at the details within nature, presented predominantly through sculptural assemblages. The mirroring between the micro and macro, the human and natural, captivates her — the intersects between art, nature, science and spirit are potent environments to research and play within. Art making can become a ceremony.
Residency Work — Paro, Bhutan 2025
Compass for the Heart.
"During my six-month residency at Paro College of Education, I entered an unfamiliar landscape of culture, rhythm, and meaning. Without the references and routines of home, I found myself standing in a space of unknowing — a space that invited humility, listening, and deep respect for Bhutan's rich cultural heritage."
The body of work grew from an intuitive engagement with Bhutanese offering objects known as Namkhar or Dö, together with bamboo and reflective tape. Cultural permission was sought before use; the novel repurposing of these objects was met with delighted surprise, opening new ideas for what could be utilised as art materials.
The assemblages began to resemble sky maps or navigational structures — forms that helped Shona orient herself in a time of unfamiliarity. The term Namkhar relates to Space, and the colours symbolise the five elements — Earth, Fire, Water, Wind/Air, and Space — harmonising inner and outer balance.
Inspired also by the colours and motifs of the Bhutanese kira — patterns known as pigeon's eyes, fly wings, and monkey's nails — alongside Polynesian navigational practices and celestial mapping, these structures explore how form can express the formless.
Art Works
Assemblages.
