Olivia de Ruiter
she/her
dutch, 2000
kakidea.nl
Thesis: Blurry memories of creating, Shimmer flashes of technique and threads slipping through our grasping fingers.
In my work I try to align slender threads of the past and my lineage, within my physical existence all the way to my dreamscape. The past years I have opened the chapter of learning and teaching the craft of Ikat weaving. Making me feel closer to my Moluccan heritage whilst navigating my position and thoughts. I am part of a continuous thread crafting a story uniquely mine, yet deeply connected to the warp and weft of my family’s history. I envy the sharks ability to navigate adversity with determination
1500 threads are tied, untied, dyed. Each thread a testament to the endurance of community and the souls that make the whole. Within the deep indigo blue, the ancient motif of frigate birds around the sun appears, called Oiale. Portraying our identity and connectedness formed by seven layers. I start in the center, Hau (Self).
A silent, calculating presence weaves through the mangrove roots. Its sleek, streamlined body moves with predatory grace, every muscle fine-tuned for the hunt. The shark’s movements resemble a dance of deadly precision. This guardian shark transcended the physical world when appearing in my dreams. Borders of history, present, dreams, and reality blur. The shark, both real and imagined, becomes a bridge between these worlds. Am I this shark? And all it sees
