"The crux lies in the gum's position beneath the metal treads," remarked the 60-year-old artist, his attire a testament to his paint-splattered craft—a vivid orange jumpsuit. "What's captivating is the sheer diversity in their contours and dimensions, defying any notion of uniformity."
While most individuals shun what others cast aside or simply overlook, Wilson perceives an artistic opportunity to transform minuscule fragments of refuse into objects of beauty. Beyond that, it serves as a means to astonish passersby, luring them into an intimate inspection of the ground beneath their feet.
"Within these diminutive canvases lies a concealed realm," Wilson shared. "Observing leads to discovery, thus encapsulating the essence of perception."
In the confines of his studio in north London, Wilson meticulously adorns the surface of a modest mosaic tile. Soon, this tile will take its place among a collection destined for London's Underground train platforms, a concealed exhibition in plain sight. Unlike the chewing gum creations, these images are more personal, reflective of what Wilson terms an "intuitive visual diary."
"These depictions are a jubilant homage to my life and those I hold dear... they also serve as a journey of visual exploration—an attempt to decipher the world around us," he mused.
Hailing from London, Wilson's formative years were shaped by artist parents. From the tender age of three, he found himself molding clay, with his debut art exhibition materializing around the age of 10 or 11.
His artistic trajectory encompassed sculptures and expansive installations within nature's embrace before gravitating towards discarded remnants of a consumer-driven society—a fascination that led him to the realm of discarded gum. This peculiar canvas has occupied his creative inclinations for a staggering 19 years.
Remarkably, the upper surface of these dried gum canvases stands beyond the dominion of local or national jurisdiction, carving out a unique space where Wilson's brushstrokes flourish sans trespassing on public property.
"I stumbled upon this niche, an artistic realm where spontaneity reigns, where my work takes form in sync with its surroundings," Wilson disclosed.
Authorities have been no strangers to the removal of Wilson's public street art—be it gum paintings from pavements or tiles from the Underground. Yet, the intricate gum artworks adorning the Millennium Bridge, numbering in the hundreds, remain undisturbed, a testament to their enigmatic endurance.
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