Walter Oltmann is a South African sculptor whose work explores the shifting boundaries between human, insect, and plant life through intricately woven wire forms. His sculptures draw on armour-like structures and natural defensive adaptations, engaging with traits evolved by insects and spiky plant species such as Aloe ferox. Oltmann describes his recent work as creating hybrid “body suits” that merge species and suggest a more interconnected and fluid reality, using hand-fabricated processes of weaving and knotting that echo slow natural cycles of growth and evolution.

Oltmann’s practice is grounded in a deep engagement with textile traditions, and his wire constructions reflect weaving techniques found in both African and West...