Kenneth Martin (1905-1984)

Oscillation was part of a series, another of which is in the collection of Tate, London. The series subsequently inspired Construction in Aluminium, 1967, an imposing metal sculpture located on Trumpington Street, Cambridge near the Fitzwilliam Museum. While the large-scale work was constructed with the aid of the Engineering Department’s workshop, the present work was constructed on this small scale directly by Kenneth Martin. Though at first it appears to be an entirely abstract piece, its curvaceous form takes its inspiration from a formula for a helical screw propeller. Thus, the sculpture marries Kenneth Martin’s modernist passion for geometrical abstraction with his interests in innovation and technical advancement. Oscillation acts as a strong example of Martin’s mature style as he produced his first abstract paintings in 1948–9 and constructions in 1951. It is during the 1950s and 1960s that Martin’s role as an important abstract artist was solidified through his exposure in a number of prominent exhibitions during these decades including the renowned This is Tomorrow at the Whitechapel Art Gallery.