^{Martin Poppelwell.}

^{day01. is delighted to welcome the second solo presention by NZ based artist, Martin Poppelwell.}

^{“Art becomes bare life by becoming an actor in life itself.” D. Joselit}
^{“On most occasions/instances when building a new body of work in pottery I start with a number of shapes and then, seeing how they feel, determine what other pieces/elements might start to fit around them to make a group. I would usually describe this process/activity as forming a ‘Gang’ - and not far from the actual definition of the word, ‘a set of things or people which go together’. However in my approach it is more likely to be ‘a set of things or people which might go together’. Or another definition being ‘an organised group of criminals’, yet for me it is more likely to be ‘a disorganised group of people who haven’t been caught yet’.

Using relatively traditional pottery techniques, and by restricting the use of materials, allowing for shapes and forms to vary considerably in scale and design, yet still feel closely related in origin. Letting black marks and lines unravel on to the surfaces is a direct way to re articulate what the shape actually is - it’s a kind of dumb move to reinforce what is simply there.

In the room, in the gallery, there is a spoon, a flag, figures and jars - a dot, drawing, and patches behind the wall where painting has been allowed to creep in. Collectively different versions of the same thing, similar question,}^{…what happens if ‘I’ join this pack.”}^{Martin Poppelwell, 2025.}

^{Request a catalogue here.}

^{Odd Actors.}

^{6 March –– 4 April 2025}

^{_{Exhibition View}}

^{_{Exhibition View}}

^{_{Exhibition View}}

^{_{Exhibition View}}

^{_{Exhibition View}}

^{_{Martin Poppelwell

Grid Orb Vase, 2025

earthenware, white slip, black stain

95 x 95 mm}}

^{_{Martin Poppelwell
Alphabet Ginger Jar, 2025
earthenware, white slip, black stain
360 x 170}}

^{_{Martin Poppelwell
Study for ‘see real questions are boring’, 2024
ink, oil and pencil, paper conservation board
170 x 205mm (paper), 360 x 170 mm (framed)}}

^{_{Martin Poppelwell
Mandala, 2024
ink on paper with tape
160 x 180 mm (paper) 360 x 360 mm (framed)}}

^{_{Martin Poppelwell
Reclining Figure, 2025
earthenware, white slip, black stain
60 x 100 mm}}

^{_{Martin Poppelwell
Study for a Spoon, 2024
earthenware, white slip, black stain
330 x 80 mm}}

^{_{Martin Poppelwell
Study for a NZ Flag, 2019
earthenware, white slip, black stain, plus steel shelf
275 x 310 mm}}