He is perhaps principally a painter, but his work as an artist goes further, with facilities and results that do not lead to indifference.
Born in Kisumu, Kenya, in 1987, Onyis Martin is a mixed media artist based in Nairobi, whose work is swiftly earning acclaim both nationally and internationally.
Martin’s oeuvre is deeply rooted in the fabric of contemporary urban society. His paintings, sculptures, and works on paper keenly explore and reflect on pressing global issues, impacting not only Africa but the world at large. Through his art, he delves into complex subjects such as human trafficking, migration, political and institutional corruption, repressive environments, and displacement. Additionally, he addresses themes of freedom, communication, the rapid evolution of technological information, and consumerism.
His investigative approach is multifaceted and sophisticated, often drawing from his personal experiences as a starting point. By interweaving individual and collective narratives of human displacement and migration, Martin's work challenges our understanding and engagement with human trafficking and its devastating consequences, highlighting the intimate, personal motivations behind migration.
Martin’s works frequently manifest as interconnected series that simultaneously question and explore various concepts and issues. In his recent series, Talking Walls, he extends his examination of how information is influenced by freedom and social structures, probing into the rise of consumerism.
Talking Walls reveals Martin's fascination with the visual potency of contemporary urban walls, which feature an eclectic collage of mainstream advertising alongside underground street imagery. Through these works, he scrutinizes branding and visual communication, focusing on the constant manipulation and destruction of language by individuals.
Despite the shift to new media in the 21st century, paper posters remain a powerful visual element in urban spaces, serving as a unique means of communication. These posters personify the walls on which they are placed, influencing viewers' perceptions and interactions with their environment.
In Talking Walls, Martin juxtaposes large posters advertising global brands with intimate notices offering personal, medical, and “voodoo” services to an increasingly urbanized population. He collages disparate images, overlays them with thick layers of acrylic paint, and creates wire-mesh, impenetrable backgrounds. Occasionally, he introduces figures into this blend of messages and visuals, prompting viewers to question the nature of their daily consumption and the freedom of the information to which they are subliminally exposed.
