UofA’s CEO and Artistic Director Edel Murphy welcomes Charys Wilson with her new work Half Light saying: “As the dark evenings come in, this exhibition of light could not be more welcome. Half Light comes to UofA as the successful response to our Green Open Call asking d/Deaf, disabled and neurodivergent artists to connect audiences with climate, environment, and creating a sustainable future through an innovative and engaging visual arts work.

Charys Wilson is an Irish visual artist working primarily in installation. She holds a BA in Fine Art from Aberystwyth University, and an MFA from Ulster University. Her immersive, contemplative works explore light, space, and time and often draws on natural elements. She has exhibited widely across Ireland, the UK, Germany, and Japan, with solo exhibitions in Berlin, Belfast, and Derry-Londonderry.

Charys often creates installations using light as a medium. She is deeply passionate about the climate crisis, our connection to the natural world, and the impact of this connection/disconnection on our mental health. She focuses on creating immersive works that minimise impact and that are created using recycled or biodegradable materials with the climate crisis in mind. Every installation is dismantled or recycled, reflecting her commitment to sustainability and addressing the growing disconnect between humanity and nature.

The work is inspired in part by the practice of forest bathing, or shinrin-yoku: a Japanese tradition of spending quiet, mindful time among trees. Research shows that this kind of intentional time in nature can reduce stress, improve mood, and even boost the immune system.

For many of us this kind of immersive experience can feel out of reach, especially during the colder months or in urban environments. This installation is a way to bring some of those benefits indoors: a moment of calm, light, and quiet connection.

At a time when the climate crisis is making rhythms of nature more fragile and unpredictable, this piece also serves as a gentle reminder of what we might be losing, and what we still have time to protect.

This installation is about reconnection with nature, the passing of time, and our role in sustaining the environments we depend on. It doesn’t aim to shock or overwhelm, but instead to gently remind, and soothe the viewer, offering a visual respite in a busy overstimulating world.