Works of art reflect Fiji – The Fiji Times

With a warm smile and a welcoming greeting of Cola Vina! Symbolising her deep and now personal connection to Fiji and its people, Alice Hill is truly an example of an artist whose craft emanates passion and carries meaning.

Alice is the owner of Hot Glass Fiji and is among the 10 local artists who have converged at Suva’s Grand Pacific Hotel as part of the “Alchemy” art exhibition which opened on Thursday and closes tomorrow.

“Alchemy came about because we wanted to celebrate raw materials and how those raw materials can transform into amazing objects and pieces of art.”

“So, about four months ago I invited 10 artists to join me for this exhibition and we’re focusing on ink, clay, glass, sand, metal, and wood. Taking those raw materials and then turning them into something extraordinary,” she said.

Alice’s Hot Glass Fiji is based in Sigatoka and all her stunning and unique pieces were made specially for the exhibition and inspired by underwater flora and fauna.

“I love scuba diving and the reef, and we’re so fortunate to have that here in Fiji, so these pieces are inspired by that. They’re not anything in particular, they’re just how I’ve interpreted what I see and love about the ocean.”

Alice referred to her Emperor and Tang pieces to demonstrate how they were different from normal pieces of glass because of the intricate designs and patterns, as well as the precision and detail with which they were moulded and shaped.

“By doing that, we’ve changed the form of the glass, and we’ve created something different and interesting. So, on the inside, you have a smooth surface, but on the outside, you have this undulating pattern.”

Starting the business Alice is originally from the United Kingdom and has been living in Fiji for 22 years.

“When we first came to Fiji, I trained before that as a glassblower, and I studied for seven years, and I worked in a glassblowing studio in London, and I really sort of got my craft and my skill for glassblowing there.”

She revealed that upon arriving in Fiji, she and her husband set up a scuba diving business which they ran for 10 years. The business was then sold off when they decided that she would try and bring something unique and new to Fiji.

“We thought we’d bring the art of glass and glassblowing and today we have five glassblowers from Korotogo Village, so we trained all of our staff up from scratch.

“Today we also have a beautiful studio where we create works of art that reflect Fiji.”

Patience and mastery Alice stated that the process of glass blowing is a challenging one that takes a long time to learn, but once the skill is properly learned and honed, it is impossible to forget.

“So, the challenge is always the patience of becoming a master of your craft. You must put in the required and additional effort and time.”

Alice shared that the pieces that were on display did not take her very long to complete, but emphasised that it took many years of learning and skill to get to the point she is at now.

“For new glassblowers it can be challenging, it’s magical to make glass, but if you’ve got the determination and once you know the skill, then it’s very rewarding.”

Fiji’s beauty – The inspiration For Alice, inspiration is a massive part of her work because to her it is the starting point from which her art is born. She emphasised that whether it be culture, heritage, or nature, these are the things that determine what an artist creates.

“All of my work that I have here is inspired by Fijian nature. In the studio I have a lot of work inspired by culture as well, but it’s also

working out that skill of taking an idea and working with that idea.

“It could be the underwater, rivers, rainforests, then I take that and interpret it into pieces of art.”

The artist and business owner from Sigatoka revealed that the idea behind her artwork is to enable anyone who looks at them to feel a sense of connection to their culture and their land and to be able to interpret them in their unique way.

Alice also emphasised that the goal of the “Alchemy” art exhibition is not just to showcase beautiful works of art, but to also create a platform for local and Indigenous artists so that the people are aware of the uniqueness and beauty of their work, as well as appreciate the skill and knowledge of the artists.

“I do hope people recognise the talent we have in Fiji. We have ten artists here and all their work is different, but all are inspired by the same thing – Fiji.”

By ALIFERETI SAKIASI

The Fiji Times – 8 December 2024