meet me at the wharenui
Olivia Asher, me at the wharenui, 2023
340 x 290 mm
whitestone clay, glaze - stoneware
These works reference the hue (gourd), a hollowed out vegetable used as a tool (vessel - ipu) to carry water by Māori. Though I reference the hue a lot in the making of these works, the reference of the body and femininity in uku came about as well – especially in the curvature of the ipu. They became living things, holders of water and life, rather than just an object.
Artist
Olivia Asher
Olivia Asher (Ngāti Tūwharetoa) is an interdisciplinary artist based in Tāmaki Makaurau. Olivia embraces experimentation and spontaneity through the materiality of her work. Making becomes a meditative process, where she immerses herself in the present moment, exploring the exchange between intention and intuition. Seeking a visceral response to her work, Olivia harnesses the tactile and sensory qualities of her materials through the transformative use of colour.
Olivia holds a BFA from Te Waka Tūhura Elam School of Fine Arts and Design.
Stockroom
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