Matthew Pope is a multidisciplinary artist whose creative practice scopes throughout sculpture, performance, video art and printmaking. His work explores varying ideas and concepts such as merging the earth with humans, the limits of the physical body, ephemeral moments, sexuality, masculinity and the interaction between artist and audience. His 2016 (ECU) graduate exhibition aimed to connect the human body with the natural environment. While his (2018) Bachelor of Arts Honours Project, “Not particularly. He seemed vacant & absent” explored embodied cognition within participatory performance. Based in Perth, Western Australia, his work aims to interact with viewers consciously and subconsciously, inviting them to look at the earth, themselves, the body and sexuality in various ways. 

Pope’s practice is based upon a variety of stimuli, some being internal experiences and others being external influences. However, at its core, explores the natural environment and our interaction and association with it. Being based in the Perth Hills for the majority of his arts career, the landscape of WA has become a focal point within Pope’s work and continues to inspire, dictate and encourage creative exploration.

Matthew uses views the body as both subject and medium, employing it as a tool for exploration, note taking and understanding. “I believe that you can never fully comprehend something unless you physically touch or stand amongst it”. Thus, Pope aims to interact and connect with viewers consciously and subconsciously. Inviting them to create associations not only with the artist but the subject matter or concepts presented in the works.