The love affair Olivia d’Aboville has with art started at a very young age, there are photographs of
her at 4 years old painting on canvases bigger than her. “I loved my classes at the ‘Atelier’, I was so
found of my teacher and we're still very close to this day.” So it goes without saying that after
graduating high school she decided to study arts in general, and that is when she realized that she
wanted to specialize in the art of textile. “I think my art is relatable yet it's innovative and easy to
understand. It is very visual and tactile. I like to play with lighting effects and textures. My inspira‐
tion comes from nature and most particularly from the ocean and its amazing creatures. I try to
recreate the beauty and fragility of the underwater world.”
She has created grand and glorious creatures of the sea that come to life with each manipulation
caused by the artist, and the art itself seem to not only move but move you with each bend and
cut made. If you look at each piece closely you will recognize the materials she works with from
fishing lines and fishing nets to nylon, and cocktails stirrers to plastic bottles and plastic spoons.
“I'm drawn to everyday objects, mass‐produced objects that have no value, particularly the plastic
translucent ones. Did you know that 70% of our plastic waste ends up in the sea? I try to recycle as
much as I can.”
This artist creates beauty to be seen, but more than that it is beauty to be heard ‐ there is a mes‐
sage in all she does. “I like it when people find my work beautiful, of course. But I want them to
understand the message behind my work, I want them to be more conscious of the waste our so‐
ciety produces everyday, I hope that they become more nature lovers. It's really important for us
to be able to observe and appreciate nature's beauty and be aware of our important role to pre‐
serve it.”
Olivia is venturing into the art of jewelry design, a more delicate and intricate line of work.
The photograph is taken using a Camera Analogue Medium Format Hasselblad : 553ELX and Olivia
is wearing her own creation, a neckpiece made from monofilament fishing nets from Cambodia
dyed deep purple.
