Arbor, 2019
Sculpture
Olivia creates limited edition sculptures handcrafted from copper, bronze and steel. The sculptures again focus on the removal of negative space leaving the positive to bring the image to life. The illumination of the sculptures is key as the play of light and shadow with the cut out metal imposes more than just the physical form of the sculpture on the space it inhabits. Arbor, the first sculpture created by Olivia continues her exploration of Britain’s native oak trees at their barest in winter. The cylindrical shade depicts the stark shapes of the trees, branches weaving, knotted and intertwined. The shade sits in a solid oak base with a central bulb illuminating the sculpture from the inside and casting shadows outwards.
Made in a variety of different finishes, Olivia is interested in experimenting with different processes and metals and the way they effect the final piece. Handmade in the UK, Arbor is made in collaboration with skilled artisans. Originating as a paper cut out, the shade is then chemically etched before being hand rolled, patinated and welded.
Carduus, 2022
Carduus, the latest sculpture made by Olivia, takes its name from the Thistle flower that inspired the repeating pattern rotating around the black shade. Olivia was interested in exploring the use of a continuous design for the shade and how this would interact with the space it sits in. Using similar processes the sculpture first started life as a paper cut out before being laser cut from steel. The steel was then rolled and welded and finished with a beautiful matt black patina. While the sculpture works beautifully without the illumination the light is key to the activation of the work.
The combination of the repeating pattern, black patination and white light creates the effect Olivia intended from the piece. The shadows cast by the sculpture animate the space it sits in and the piece becomes more than just its physical form. The entire space it sits within becomes part of the work.
