Rodney Pople produces confronting images, environmental vandalism, human prejudice and political corruption, all are fair game for Pople. The exhibition Endangered sees the artist return to his roots as a sculptor, using ceramics as his medium, Pople has produced a series of ‘Trophy Heads’ mounted in the manner of a Dickensian Gentleman’s library, the taxidermist skills preserved the endangered creatures for selfish pleasure.
The exhibition also contains a series of paintings in which endangered Tasmania species are superimposed in institutions of power such as parliament buildings and churches. The paintings are key examples of Pople’s ongoing commitment in his work to addressing abuses of power.
Pople’s work is well-known for its provocative views of the world, including of Tasmanian themes. His painting of Port Arthur, which included the small figure of Martin Bryant caused an uproar when it was awarded the prestigious Glover Art Prize in 2012. Best known as a painter, this exhibtion will represent the first ceramic sculptures Pople has made in 25 years. After completing his undergraduate art studies in Hobart, he studied sculpture at the New York Studio School and Slade College in London.
The Sydney-based artist has returned to his first discipline, sculpture, and to his home city of Launceston to create a series of ceramic animal heads representing endangered and extinct Tasmanian animals. The ceramics were made at the Tin Shed studios in Inveresk. The Studio has given Pople the opportunity to create this important body of work in his home state, sculpting numerous Tasmanian endemic birds and animals that are extinct or under threat as a result of man’s folly.
” The sculptures play on the idea of hunting trophies – the heads of hunted animals that are traditionally wall-mounted in country bars and aristocratic homes. Yet they also have a formal affinity with the tradition in sculpture of creating sculptural busts of revered men and women through the ages: royalty, politicians, community leaders and acclaimed sporting or cultural figures. This conceptual slippage between the hunted and the leaders is of interest, as I see many endangered species occupying this in-between status of being reviled (hunted) and revered (adored)”.
Gallery views….
RODNEY POPLE, Gallery view
RODNEY POPLE, gallery view 1
RODNEY POPLE, Gallery view
RODNEY POPLE, Gallery view
RODNEY POPLE, Gallery view
RODNEY POPLE, Gallery view
RODNEY POPLE, Gallery view
Free standing ceramics….
RODNEY POPLE | Endangered (Macquarie Island Shag) (front) and Albatross (wall) | 2016 | Ceramic | Signed base | both SOLD
RODNEY POPLE | Endangered (Plover) | 2016 | Ceramic on timber base | $2,750.00
RODNEY POPLE | Endangered (Tiger) | 2016 | Ceramic | 15 cm high | Signed base | $2,750.00
RODNEY POPLE | Endangered (Tiger) | 2016 | Ceramic | 15 cm high | Signed base | $2,750.00
RODNEY POPLE | Endangered (Albatross)|2016 |Ceramic | SOLD
RODNEY POPLE | Endangered (Owl) | 2016 | Ceramic | 25 cm high | Signed base | SOLD
RODNEY POPLE | Endangered (Grebes. Macquarie Island Shag) | 2016 | Ceramic on timber base | 80 cm | SOLD
RODNEY POPLE | Endangered (Tasmanian Tiger) | 2016 | Ceramic | 57 cm long | Signed base |
$4,500.00
Trophy heads wall……
RODNEY POPLE, The Trophy wall
RODNEY POPLE | Endangered (Spotted quoll) | 2016 | Ceramic on timber base | 70cm diameter | Signed base | $5,500.00
RODNEY POPLE | Endangered (Devil) | 2016 | Ceramic on timber base | 70cm diameter | Signed base | $5,500.00
RODNEY POPLE | Endangered (Tasmanian Tiger) | 2016 | Ceramic on timber base | 70cm diameter | Signed base | $5,500.00
RODNEY POPLE, Endangered, The trophy wall, ceramics on timber base, 70 diameter, $5,500.00 (each)
RODNEY POPLE | Endangered (Masked Owl) | 2016 | Ceramic on timber base | 70cm diameter | Signed base | $5,500.00
RODNEY POPLE | Endangered (Platypus) | 2016 | Ceramic on timber base | 70cm diameter | Signed base | $5,500.00
RODNEY POPLE | Endangered (Platypus) | 2016 | Ceramic on timber base | 70cm diameter | Signed base | $5,500.00
RODNEY POPLE, Endangered, The trophy wall, ceramics on timber base, 70 diameter, $5,500.00 (each)
RODNEY POPLE, Endangered, The trophy wall, ceramics on timber base, 70 diameter, $5,500.00 (each)
RODNEY POPLE | Endangered (Tasmanian Tiger) | 2016 | Ceramic on timber base | 70cm diameter | Signed base | $5,500.00
RODNEY POPLE, Endangered, The trophy wall, ceramics on timber base, 70 diameter, $5,500.00 (each)
Paintings…..
RODNEY POPLE
Endangered (Eagle 2)
2016 Oil on plywood 110 x 140 cm $15,500.00 (framed)
RODNEY POPLE | Endangered (Tasmanian Tiger) | 2016 | Oil on panel | 110 x 110 cm | Signed verso | SOLD
RODNEY POPLE | Endangered (The Walrus was Paul) | 2016| oil on linen|107 x 245 cm |signed verso | $27,500.00
RODNEY POPLE, Endangered (Bushwalkers) 2016 | oil on board | 100 x 120 cm | $15,500.00
RODNEY POPLE | Endangered (Upper House Tasmania) 2016 | oil on linen | 133 x 201 cm | $23,500.00
RODNEY POPLE |Endangered (Eagle 1) |2016
Oil on plywood | 90 x 60 cm | Signed verso |$7,500.00
Watercolours….
RODNEY POPLE
Endangered (series 25 )
2016 Watercolour and tempera on paper 67 x 86 cm $5,500
RODNEY POPLE |
Endangered (series 24 )
2016 | Watercolour and tempera on paper |67 x 86 cm | $5,500
Small watercolours on paper, framed…
RODNEY POPLE | Endangered (Devil) | 2016 | Watercolour on paper | 34 x 50 cm (framed) | Signed LR | $3,500.00
RODNEY POPLE, watercolours, 68 x 87 cm (framed),, $3,500.00 (each)
RODNEY POPLE | Endangered (Devil with white collar) | 2016 | Watercolour on paper | 34 x 50 cm (framed) | Signed LR | $3,500.00
RODNEY POPLE | Endangered (masked owl) | 2016 | Watercolour on paper | 34 x 50 cm (framed) | Signed LR | $3,500.00
RODNEY POPLE | Endangered (Echidna) | 2016 | Watercolour on paper | 34 x 50 cm (framed) | Signed LR | $3,500
