ORBmaker
My name is Olivia; I have a materials-led artist practice primarily concerned with transforming and disrupting our expectations of narrative, space and cultural objects. I work with time- and labour-intensive analogue processes and technologies including origami, ceramics, jewellery, analogue photography and printmaking.
At this year’s Christmas market I have extended my collection to include ceramics! 2020 has been an opportunity for me to get stuck into clay, adding cups and porcelain Christmas decorations to the mix. I hope you enjoy them!
My book baubles are swinging from trees around the world. My book baubles are made with shredded pages of books, atlases and sheet music. Pages are shredded, folded and pinched to form tiny 3D objects that are recognisable but nonsensical. Each glass bauble is then filled with these stars, and your bauble comes with a handwritten tag telling which book or location is inside. Part of the fun is looking closely and trying to work it out for yourself! Turn them in your hand and watch them change, and maybe reveal a secret or two. Baubles are 6cm diameter.
This year I have handmade porcelain Christmas decorations as well. These start as offcuts from larger pieces like my button beakers, then are imprinted with a pattern from a piece of vintage lace. Glaze and underglaze inlay colours set off the patterns, and a ribbon makes them ready to hang on your tree. These baubles range from 4.5cm to 9cm diameter.
Button beakers are hand built stoneware and porcelain
cups, without handles so you can snuggle up to your favourite hot beverage (or cool your fingers with your favourite iced concoctions!) I am interested in making beautiful and functional ceramics, so each one is decorated with stamps of vintage buttons from my own button collection, most of which date from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The beakers all feel a little different, and are lovely to hold with the textures under your hands.
Book and atlas earrings are also made from pages of text and maps, and are carefully folded in modular origami shapes. The paper objects are sealed with a uv-resistant, waterproof lacquer and hang from hypoallergenic, surgical stainless steel findings. They’re so light you’ll forget you’re wearing your favourite book or place in the world! And if you want a different pop of colour, I also make these earrings with hand printed Japanese paper. Each piece is unique.
