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Alix Ashworth

Ritual Offerings
Eighty vessels containing taonga
Each with it's own blend of clay creating a diverse range of colours
*Ritual Offerings 2021
Absolution, Christchurch
Photo courtesy CL Photography
Each with it's own blend of clay creating a diverse range of colours
*Ritual Offerings 2021
Absolution, Christchurch
Photo courtesy CL Photography

Tōku Whenua
Kaitiaki #1
Ceramic and ink surrounding tapestry of landscape
*Ritual Offerings 2021
Photo courtesy CL Photography
Ceramic and ink surrounding tapestry of landscape
*Ritual Offerings 2021
Photo courtesy CL Photography

Crucibles
Ceramic vessels used to contain taonga through firing
*Ritual Offerings 2021
Photo courtesy CL Photography
*Ritual Offerings 2021
Photo courtesy CL Photography

Raw Matterials
Twenty items were chosen for thei connection to me and the whenua. These were then fired four times over in the eighty vessels created for the show
*Ritual Offerings 2021
Photo courtesy CL Photography
*Ritual Offerings 2021
Photo courtesy CL Photography

Whenua Poetry
Hand typed diary entries and poetry. Connected by red thread to the raw matterials fired in vessels.
*Ritual Offerings 2021
Photo courtesy CL Photography
*Ritual Offerings 2021
Photo courtesy CL Photography

Tōku Manawa
Kaitiaki #2
Ceramic and ink surrounding a tapestry of the heart
*Ritual Offerings 2021
SOLD
Photo courtesy CL Photography
Ceramic and ink surrounding a tapestry of the heart
*Ritual Offerings 2021
SOLD
Photo courtesy CL Photography

nUku
Seven stages of accepting your whakapapa
Accepting you are enough
Accepting your journey in te Ao Māori
To accept is to lean in to vulnerability
Embrace the fall
Your spirit splits in two
Support the landing
You come together as one
Tīpuna,
Tangata whenua,
Wairua,
As one
As one
*nUku 2020
Photo courtesy Tatianna Harper
Accepting you are enough
Accepting your journey in te Ao Māori
To accept is to lean in to vulnerability
Embrace the fall
Your spirit splits in two
Support the landing
You come together as one
Tīpuna,
Tangata whenua,
Wairua,
As one
As one
*nUku 2020
Photo courtesy Tatianna Harper

nUku
While making these works I explore my identity as white passing Māori.
The flow of making brought me through seven stages of acceptance, which also reflect the stages of grief. For it is a grieving process to accept that you have lost something you would hold so dear.
I use contrasting clays to tell a story in each piece, they reflect how I often feel mistaken for that which I am not.
In some of the work I use sand from Rakiura, a place which is very important for my whanau. This is where our family name was changed from Waaka to Manning. It is also a place my soul feels at peace.
I use te reo Māori as poetry to title my work. Often the English translation does not give the meaning behind the Māori language justice.
I choose te reo Māori because it is what the vessel calls to, although my lack of knowledge makes me uncomfortable it is a step that must be taken bravely.
*
*nUku 2020
Photo courtesy Tatianna Harper
The flow of making brought me through seven stages of acceptance, which also reflect the stages of grief. For it is a grieving process to accept that you have lost something you would hold so dear.
I use contrasting clays to tell a story in each piece, they reflect how I often feel mistaken for that which I am not.
In some of the work I use sand from Rakiura, a place which is very important for my whanau. This is where our family name was changed from Waaka to Manning. It is also a place my soul feels at peace.
I use te reo Māori as poetry to title my work. Often the English translation does not give the meaning behind the Māori language justice.
I choose te reo Māori because it is what the vessel calls to, although my lack of knowledge makes me uncomfortable it is a step that must be taken bravely.
*
*nUku 2020
Photo courtesy Tatianna Harper

Tītī Kaiapo (Selfish Bird)
Reclaimed Uku, Rakiura Iron Sand and Porcelain
*nUku 2020
*nUku 2020

Whaea Hōhonu (Pregnant Mother)
Reclaimed Uku, Rakiura Iron Sand and Porcelain
*nUku 2020
*nUku 2020

Rapa Mamae (Hair of Mourning)
Reclaimed Uku, Tī Kōuka and Makawe
*nUku 2020
*nUku 2020

Kautere te Wairua (Floating Spirit)
Reclaimed Uku and Porcelain
*nUku 2020
SOLD
*nUku 2020
SOLD

Kei hea te māminga? (Where's the catch?)
Reclaimed Uku, Tī Kōuka and Porcelain
*nUku 2020
*nUku 2020

Singing Them Home
Forgive me Ancestors
For I have forgotten you
Four pillars
Four Atua
Four spirits forgotten
Left on the lonely path
I gather the bones
Hold them close
Ki taku manawa
Sing the bones
Sing life and spirit
Warm the cold souls
Of spirits forgotten
Make their bones yours
Step foot on their path
The lonely are not alone
*Chambers Gallery, Christchurch
For I have forgotten you
Four pillars
Four Atua
Four spirits forgotten
Left on the lonely path
I gather the bones
Hold them close
Ki taku manawa
Sing the bones
Sing life and spirit
Warm the cold souls
Of spirits forgotten
Make their bones yours
Step foot on their path
The lonely are not alone
*Chambers Gallery, Christchurch

Takaroa
Reclaimed uku and porcelain
*Singing Them Home 2020
SOLD
*Singing Them Home 2020
SOLD

Tawhirimatea
Reclaimed uku, porcelain and gold thread
*Singing Them Home 2020
SOLD
*Singing Them Home 2020
SOLD

Papatuanuku
Reclaimed uku and porcelain
*Singing Them Home 2020
SOLD
*Singing Them Home 2020
SOLD

Tane Mahuta
Reclaimed uku, porcelain and gold plated wire
*Singing Them Home 2020
SOLD
*Singing Them Home 2020
SOLD

Papatuanuku with chain
Reclaimed uku, porcelain and iron bearing clays
*Aoraki Matatu 2020
*Aoraki Matatu 2020

Papatuanuku's Chain
Porcelain and iron bearing clays. Hand blended to create an ombre affect
*Aoraki Matatu 2020
*Aoraki Matatu 2020

Kōhatu Mauri ā Kete Tuatea
One of three works based off ngā kete wānanga ancestral story
Conflict is rising, be wary, take heed
Hand pinched porcelain, Slab faceted hand mixed clay, black glaze, clay slip
*Whitu 2020
Conflict is rising, be wary, take heed
Hand pinched porcelain, Slab faceted hand mixed clay, black glaze, clay slip
*Whitu 2020

Kōhatu Mauri ā Kete Tuauri
Stand with me brothers
Protect my Turangawaewae
My Wairua
My Māoritanga
Hand carved recycled clay with Rakiura iron sand inclusion, Iron saturated glaze
*Whetu 2020
Masterworks Gallery
Protect my Turangawaewae
My Wairua
My Māoritanga
Hand carved recycled clay with Rakiura iron sand inclusion, Iron saturated glaze
*Whetu 2020
Masterworks Gallery

Kōhatu Mauri ā Kete Aronui
Take this small piece of hope, this small piece of humanity
Use it wisely
Pit fired, hand coiled recycled clay, hand pinched porcelain, cream glaze
*Whitu 2020
Use it wisely
Pit fired, hand coiled recycled clay, hand pinched porcelain, cream glaze
*Whitu 2020

A Home Between Two Trees
In times of dissorder and distress we search for a safe haven
A home beneith gentle skies
Whanau to greet us
Tipuna to guide us
Rain on our backs
Sun on our face
The space breathes into us
Tihei Mauri Ora
*Close Encounters 2020
Art Hole
A home beneith gentle skies
Whanau to greet us
Tipuna to guide us
Rain on our backs
Sun on our face
The space breathes into us
Tihei Mauri Ora
*Close Encounters 2020
Art Hole

Thoughts in the Breeze
Unglazed recycled uku (clay), Porcelain, Tī Kouka and Muka
*Close Encounters 2020
SOLD
*Close Encounters 2020
SOLD
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