Mark Aitken's art work takes place through collaborative documentary encounters. His recent work evidences memory defined by 'emotional truths' and ineffable experiences.
Mark works with mixed-media - including film, photography, writing, sound works, installations and radio. Collaborating with people to produce emotionally resonant outcomes, Mark's practice spans over 20 years and is unified yet diverse - at home in galleries, cinemas, site-specific installations, television and radio. Born in New Zealand and raised in South Africa, he has lived in London for many years and presently works between there and Helsinki.
Currently supported by the Niilo Helander Foundation in Finland to consider contrasts between Nordic conspiracy theories and lived experiences, Mark is also
affiliated to the Helsinki Collegium for Advanced Studies.
Photo: Katri Alatalo
Mark’s award-winning films include 'Neighbourhood of Infinity' (2021) about confinement and freedoms during the pandemic, 'Dead when I got here' (2015) about a Mexican psychiatric hospital run by its own patients; 'Forest of Crocodiles' (2010) about a fearful white South African rural community; 'Until when you die' (2007) tracing a Vietnamese refugee’s journey home and 'This was Forever' (2007) about the loss of a community allotment in London. Mark has also facilitated over fifty films with students.
Mark completed the mixed-media series, 'Sisu' in 2025. Outputs include films, a photo series and an upcoming book. His photo installation 'Sanctum Ephemeral' and book about his own community losing their homes won the UK National Open Art 2017, Portrait of Britain 2017 and was published in national press, magazines and exhibited in group shows in London, Glasgow and a solo show in Catalonia.
Teaching since 1990, Mark currently lectures photography, film and scriptwriting at Central St Martins, London. He was awarded his doctorate, 'Emotional truths in documentary making' from Goldsmiths in 2019. Mark's produced radio programmes on London’s Resonance fm since 2004.