About Natalie Popovski & Clare Maynard
Natalie Popovski is a young emerging Gold Coast artist having recently success at Tweed Regional Art Gallery and solo exhibitions in Brisbane and the Gold Coast. Natalie’s practice is centered around using seemingly insignificant objects found in the home to create indirect portraits of the people around her. The items we choose to keep hold of carry a lifetime of memories and speak of a persons believes, rituals , temperament and history.
Clare maynard has been a Gold Coast resident for many years. Watching the Gold Coast bloom into a stand alone cultural city, has inspired her to collaborate with Natalie on their piece with a background in construction she utilised her skills to build their artwork.
2022 SWELL ARTWORK – Nostalgia, Natalie Popovski & Clare Maynard
The artwork is constructed with ceramic items, borrowed, moulded and slip-cast from members of the community. Seemingly inanimate objects, each item holds a story and memories of nostalgia. See below to read the story behind each item:
Saxa Salt
“The Saxa salt was always in my Baba and Dedo’s kitchen in country Victoria. It was referred to affectionately by my sisters and cousins as ‘wog salt’ as it seemed to exist in every Baba’s kitchen. ‘Saxa Salt’ was just another Australian brand. yet to us it was the epitome of ethnic life, like cucumbers in iced vinegar, Turkish coffee and Slavic daytime tv.”
– Natalie Popovski, Artist
The Language of Flowers
“I just adore flowers, but more importantly the language and symbolism behind the beautiful blooms. I’ve represented my connection to our sculpture by using this bright blue vases with the chrysanthemum flower. This flower represents joy, happiness, longevity and friendship, all things I value in my life and have experienced whilst creating our pieces for Swell.”
– Clare Maynard, Collaborator
Just Three Ingredients
“With only a few simple ingredients; flour, water, and salt, a very dramatic and intense transformation happens while making a loaf of bread. There is one more necessary input that must also be present. Time. You can’t simply hope for the best. You must work hard and be diligent while taking care of these things. It is the same with our family. We didn’t simply hope for the best. Passion, hard work and love have created who we are as a family. Bread and our family go hand in hand. And we never stop trying to improve both.”
– Wil Pearce, owner and baker of Pixel Bakehouse
Hootenanny owls!
Little Macsen was born on the sunny Gold Coast and he’s such a hoot, so his cherished item is our friendly little owls.. Macsen loves Swell and the coast and has been to view the sculptures every year since he was born… so this year is his fourth year!
– Mac Dog, 4-year-old
Pale Helmet
“I’m a recent resident to the Gold Coast, originally from way out west, and then the not so Wild West of Brisbane. My sentimental item is the pale helmet… this intricately detailed helmet was fossicked from a Salvation Army store 20 years ago and is a 1920s American oil fields helmet.. to me this signifies the beauty that can be found anywhere. All we need to do is look (and pay $10).”
– Richard
The Ukelele
“I’ve been playing guitar since I was young, and it was like a new story when I picked up a uke at the age of 24. The strums sounded like sunlight, and songs that I had once learnt to play on guitar got a whole lot sweeter on the Ukulele.”
– Jenna Orcher, Artist
The Booty Vase
“Everybody likes a nice vase.”
– Dion, Artist
Instagram: @natpop
Facebook: @Natalie popovski
Website: www.mintarthouse.com
Come and see for yourself at SWELL Sculpture Festival, Pacific Parade, Currumbin 9-18 September.
