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what it means to be alive

Olivia Asher, what it means to be alive, 2023

510 x 240 mm

red raku 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.

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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.