BORN

1977  Sydney, Australia

STUDIES

2022

Bachelor of Fine Art (Sculpture), National Art School

ARTIST STATEMENT

Through the assembly of found domestic and industrial objects, Martin John Oldfield investigates the link between human attributes and mechanical gestures in his work. One sculpture might be a party-going assemblage, drunk and hell-bent on making noise, another might be quietly useless. Twenty years of experience repairing heavy equipment informs his technical approach to making; tinkering and shed culture are central to a life spent fixing things. Oldfield’s assemblages are punctuated with absurdity as punchlines while maintaining a dialogue with material histories and deeper existential narratives.

EXHIBITION STATEMENT

Art school is a curious place to disarrange previously held ideas and positions while exploring new ways of learning through tacit knowledge. The fragmented torso, rhythmic steel structure, and assemblage that creates a gesture with a rotating feather represent a progression toward a focus on movement—reconciling my trade background and creative practice heavily influenced my material choices and approach to making this work.

GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2023 – February – Harvey Galleries/ NAS Group Show