Martin Goldin

About Martin Goldin

I was born on Valentine’s day 1944 in Johannesburg, South Africa.

This is probably why I have been such a romantic. I liked creating things throughout my childhood.

I studied Medicine in South Africa and qualified as an ENT surgeon where my surgery may have influenced my sculpting to some extent and vice-versa.

I was called up for National Service in the Army as a doctor in 1970. I was not involved in any combat, only treating our service men and indigenous people who would often walk across the veld (bush) for several days to come and see me.

I saw the very beautiful objects that these people carved from the native timbers with very basic tools. I also tried my hand at it. My first attempt was with beautiful Tambouti wood using a pen-knife during my free time.

When back in civilian life, I carved what tuned out to be a fertility symbol, out of Kiaat wood. During further studies and travel, several of my colleagues asked to keep this piece in my absence; after “baby-sitting” my sculpture, their wives fell pregnant and began attributing their pregnancies to my sculpture.

This sculpture was then given to my son (the first member of our family to migrate to Australia) and this was followed by the birth of our first grandchild.

I have mainly worked with wood because of its natural beauty and its texture and context fits in with what inspires me by way of form, contour and perspective of human, animal and other objects that I stylize. Wood has the added enjoyment of the tactile and aromatic senses acquired from working with it.

I sculpt purely for fun and relaxation, especially whilst working as an ENT surgeon when sculpting would afford me a release from the pressures and stress of surgery. Wooden sculptures may take hundreds of hours to complete and for this reason I have been reluctant to part with them. I have a deep connection with each sculpture I create, a bond.

Recently, following several requests for my work, I have had bronzes cast of my sculptures.

I have now emigrated to Melbourne and live in Bayside close to my family. I have taken an early retirement because of the difficulty involved in practicing my profession in Australia and having decided to spend more time with my family in Australia over medical practice.. As I settle in I hope to sculpt more finding inspiration in the enormous art network and beautiful country that I now live in, the native timbers and indigenous forms.