“My main inspiration for these works come from our society in general. About how to become your best self. This self-help mania that has been going on for so long has been an inspiration. In this society you are constantly reminded of how to become your better self, physically and mentally or how to become as successful as possible.”

Larsen Warner is pleased to present the solo exhibition Going Down Swinging by Stockholm-based artist Truls Mårtensson (b. 1993, Sweden). The exhibition marks the artists first solo exhibition at the gallery.

Mårtensson first began to experiment with ceramics as a material in 2017 during his studies in California at UCLA after which he continued to explore the medium upon returning home to Sweden while at Konstfack. His current studio can be found within the iconic Gustavsberg studio-complex in Stockholm which was once home to the famous Gustavsberg porcelain factory.

Going Down Swinging features ten vessel-like sculptures delving into themes of self-improvement and societal pressures. The pieces convey the notion of striving for self-betterment, both physically and mentally, all while raising questions about the authenticity of the presented image. What sets Mårtensson's work apart is his proclivity for incorporating fragments of text, drawing from various sources to create multi-layered narratives within his sculptures. In essence, Mårtensson's creations serve as a reflection of the human experience, encapsulating the tensions and challenges of modern life; especially the relentless pursuit of self-improvement in a world teeming with ifluences and expectations.

Mårtensson’s ambition is to craft pieces that resonate with a diverse audience, for those who share his sources of inspiration. Mårtensson’s works are constructed using traditional coil building. Each sculpture is made of long coils of clay, each attached by hand on top of the next which is then manipulated to create the vessels form.  Although and age-old technique, coil building offers Mårtensson a simple and direct way to infuse his sculptures with volume and depth, giving them a distinctive presence. Instead of focusing on various glazes and surface treatments, Mårtensson's primary objective is to bring his artistic concepts to life. His ceramics serve as a canvas for storytelling, each piece carrying its own narrative. This focus on creating narratives through his ceramics adds a layer of depth and meaning to his work, making it not just a visual experience but a thought-provoking journey into the ideas and stories he wishes to convey.

Since the earliest civilizations, people have made vessels to carry and store food and liquid. These functional ceramics quickly became decorative and artistic, telling the stories and fables of the cultures that created them. The discovery of these pots and vessels over time have helped later civilizations piece together the history of these cultures, understanding cultural, political and everyday life of various people for millennia. Mårtensson’s vessels act as contemporary relics conveying the artists distinctive focus on merging historical pop-art influences into the surface of the clay, skillfully collaging both image and text to create a multilayered visual language. In doing so, he bridges the gap between the past and the present, all the while challenging the prevailing narratives of modern consumer culture.

Mårtensson completed his BFA in Ceramics and Glass at Konstfack in 2022. Recent exhibitions include My Presence Is A Present, Hall Gallery, Gothenburg, 2021; Possessions, Duo Exhibition with Anton Josephson in collaboration with HUD Space, curated by Hall Gallery, Stockholm, 2021;  Tabula Rasa, Group Exhibition, Hall Gallery, Gothenburg, 2021; Where Troubles Melt, Group Exhibition, Galleri Blås & Knåda, Stockholm, 2021; Hang In There, Group Exhibition, Curated by DotDotDot, Stockholm, 2021; Time To Get A Job, Solo Exhibition, Stripped Vintage, Stockholm, 2020; Futuristic, Group Exhibition, Curated by DotDotDot, Stockholm, 2020.