Holly Roach
Holly Roach is a versatile artist known for her gorgeously emotive landscapes. Sweeping brush strokes and a striking array of colours inspired by natural surroundings set the tone within her luscious compositions.
In celebration of Matariki, we had the privilege of asking Adele and Richie of Borrowed Earth about their beautiful new collection of ceramics and how they honour the Māori New Year.
In celebration of Matariki, we had the privilege of asking Adele and Richie of Borrowed Earth about their beautiful new collection of ceramics and how they honour the Māori New Year.
You are strongly inspired by your connection to papatūānuku (the land) and our whakapapa (ancestral lineages). How does this guide your process?
papatūānuku is the mother figure who gives birth to all things, she is a never ending source of wonder and inspiration to us. Whakapapa binds us and links us to our ancestors. Whakapapa gives us our identity so we know who we are and where we are from. We explore these connections through our work.
YOUR CURRENT COLLECTION IS BASED UPON MATARIKI- THE MĀORI NEW YEAR. HOW DO CELEBRATE?
We have two traditions for Matariki. The first is connecting with family over some good plant based kai. The other is to visit our local plant nursery to pick up some native plants to add to our ngahere (bush). We will then be able to use the leaves of these plants to decorate our whakataukī bowls.
DO YOU HAVE PARTICULAR KAI YOU LOVE TO TUCK INTO AROUND MATARIKI?
Plant based treats made with aroha!
Have you had interesting learning curves creating the collection around Matariki?
Working with clay is all about interesting learning curves! We have been making pots for over 20 years and some days we can still feel like total beginners. Clay is always teaching you great life lessons!
WHAT DOES A REGULAR DAY IN YOUR STUDIO LOOK LIKE?
We usually have a bit of every process on the go in the studio which helps to keep work moving thru the kilns. We don't have that much space so we need to keep things flowing. A regular day will be made up of making, decorating and loading the bisque kiln. (with lots of cat cuddles thrown in the mix as well!) Once the bisque is full and fired, its a day of glazing and then the process starts over again.
WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT LIVING IN OUR SPECIAL COUNTRY, AOTEAROA?
Aotearoa is truly a magical place to live! We are blessed to have beautiful bush, beaches and rivers everywhere, this is our taonga and it is essential to our wellbeing as individuals and as a country. This is what makes Aotearoa so special for us.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR INCENSE BURNER AND THE SIGNIFICANCE BEHIND THEM?
We want to encourage people to bring ritual back into their daily lives. With an incense cone lit in our bowl, find a comfortable spot and take a moment to reflect, to step out of the noise and find a space of calm. Meditate, breath and relax.
Holly Roach is a versatile artist known for her gorgeously emotive landscapes. Sweeping brush strokes and a striking array of colours inspired by natural surroundings set the tone within her luscious compositions.
We are excited to invite you to participate in our upcoming exhibition, Journeyscapes, which will be held in August 2024. This exhibition will explore the multifaceted concept of journeys, delving into both the physical and metaphorical paths that shape our experiences and identities.
As the stars of Matariki and Puanga rise in the sky, we pause to recognise the significance of this celebration within our communities. We are dedicated to deepening our knowledge and understanding of Matariki traditions. Borrowed Earth have created a special collection in honour of Matariki that incorporates whakataukī along with...
The purpose of this exhibition is to inspire a deep appreciation of the natural beauty that surrounds us, and enhance awareness regarding the importance of our national gems and the ecological hurdles they face.Through creative practice, this group of artists have cultivated a connection to the natural world through the...