Poisonous Pastoral: Georg Wilson and the “Against Nature” Exhibition – Nature’s Dark Face

On Savile Row—London’s legendary address for razor-sharp suits and impeccable tailoring—this week, amid the scent of fine fabrics, an unsettling earthy smell rises. On the London floor of Apartment No:26, we open our windows once again to Pilar Corrias gallery and Georg Wilson’s first solo exhibition, titled “Against Nature.” Wilson takes us away from the familiar British countryside into a “para-pastoral” universe where humans have been completely erased, wild creatures reign, and plants have silently transformed into executioners. While London’s famous winter frost rules outside, inside Wilson’s canvases invite us into a garden that darkens with the arrival of winter—a place where the uncanny takes hold and poisonous plants declare their dominion. If you see nature not merely as a source of “peace” but as a wild force harboring ancient secrets and survival instincts, the air on this floor is exactly for you.

Para-Pastoral: Shadow Play in a Humanless World

Georg Wilson’s art fundamentally disrupts the conventional idea of “landscape painting.” The works in his “Against Nature” series focus especially on poisonous plant species and the onset of winter. Plants such as henbane, thorn-apple, and deadly nightshade—abundant in British soil yet whose names are fading from memory—appear here as the main protagonists.

The world Wilson creates is one without people. The wild creatures that were more prominent in his earlier works have now retreated into shadows, hiding behind the plants. These low-contrast paintings, which demand time and attention from the viewer to discern their details, symbolize humanity’s diminishing knowledge of nature. A note for the residents of our building’s Boiler Room: this exhibition feels as though David Lynch had directed a nature documentary—offering an atmosphere that is both mesmerizing and deeply unsettling.

Forgotten Knowledge: Medicine or Poison?

Wilson questions how folk knowledge of plants eroded in Britain starting in the 15th century with the enclosure of common lands, followed by industrialization. These poisonous plants, once used both in folk medicine and early modern pharmacology, are in fact nature’s own defense mechanisms.

The Power of Dosage: In his research, the artist focuses on a striking truth: with the right knowledge and dosage, a poison can become a cure.

Historical Erosion: Industrialization’s rupture turned plants into something merely “dangerous” or “worthless,” erasing their folkloric depth.

When you look closely at the canvases, you will notice that these plants are both inviting and deeply uncanny. Wilson masterfully captures the silent magic of seasonal transition and the strangeness of a darkening landscape.

Exhibition Agenda and Details

This show marks Georg Wilson’s first major exhibition following his institutional debut at Jupiter Artland and the gallery’s announcement of representation.

Artist: Georg Wilson

Exhibition Title: Against Nature

Venue: Pilar Corrias, Savile Row, London

Dates: Until March 7, 2026

Highlights: Portraits of poisonous plant species fused with para-pastoral winter landscapes.

Before leaving the London floor of Apartment No:26, linger a little longer in this dark garden. Wilson’s brush reminds us that nature is not merely a tame companion—it is a wild force with its own boundaries and laws.