Axel Iva
SummaryDubbed Axel Iva- a designer hailing from Samoan villages with the same initials; Apolima and Iva. Completely raised and currently resides in Mangere, Tamaki Makaurau in Aotearoa. His creative practice comprises graphic design and craft to unify tactility and technology. Innately, his work is a hybrid of contrasting variables, with concepts deriving from the exploration of semantics, semiotics and Samoan life.
A graduate in graphic design, applied science and a master's in technological futures. Different industries on paper are strung by a common thread: innovation. Iva's concepts are formed in the integration of both (but not limited to); craft and computer, tradition and today, culture and commerce, pressing and playful.
Creative Process
Truthfully, this is my return from a creative hiatus-so, starting off with sundry brainstorms on a twelve hour bus trip was an accelerated catapult into my residency.
Words continuously ricocheted off previous scribbles, until nine lively concepts breathed on their own. Consequently, the idea dictated the scope, medium and details.
Unlike the prior collection, A’E IOU (drop ii) called for more physical constructions, digital deliverables and haphazard techniques.
On a sombre note, it also unearthed the bleak encounters around the pressures to meet and excel the levels of reciprocity and fa'a Samoa.
Creative Workspace
Firstly, my home studio-tagged as "Iva Yards". This workspace is in the first and only house my parents purchased upon migrating to Aotearoa. Growing up, our house was a "Hamo Hotel'' with extended family staying in a not-so-extended-sized area. Upon their exit, this room was my first room, and the first thing I did was create. Alternatively, my second workspace is my garage studio. Younger me would scavenge the miscellaneous hoarding stored within and build janky pieces of furniture or wall-to-ceiling features. It was not about the correction of the construction, but the tenacity to bring a thought into the real world with limited skills and resources. So, every time I return to these spaces, I instinctively revert to this childlike mindset to eliminate restrictions on imagination and ideas.
Final Works
My Fale-ship residency prompted the completion of the remaining nine prototypes for a collection of work named A'E, IOU. This body of work is compiled of seventeen images/moving images, structured and stylized as the Samoan alphabet known as ‘O Le Pi Tautau’.
Prior to my residency, eight of the works have been produced (following the Samoan alphabet order: a, e, i, o, u, f, g, l) referred to as "drop i".
The remaining nine (m, n, p, s, t, v, h, k, r) known as "drop ii" were completed during Fale-ship.
A'E, IOU visualises homeware embodying my Samoan household within a Western neighbourhood. It showcases a collision of traditional items, concepts, and practices with ubiquitous modern objects and materials. A reminder and result of customs from our homeland, while going through customs in lands away from home.
Fale-ship Questionnaire
What’s one word that describes your work?
Retrospectively reviewing my work, it frequently presents itself in a playful manner. However, their undercurrents are extracted from pressing issues and events. Inherently, my personal and cultural trait is using humour to soften the severity of spiky subjects. So, to define my work in one word, it will be: seriocomic.
How does it feel to be showcasing your work from your creative space?
Showcasing from my creative workspace, genuinely-feels slightly daunting. Personally, I revel in remaining lowkey, so to have my creative workspace publicised is a major adjustment.
What were some highlights and challenges you came across during your residency?
A challenging aspect was the incessant problem solving (multiplied by nine). It is a rarity for me to have a linear project path from ideation to creation-so, the brief time frame amplified the struggle. Contrastingly, highlights were when the chaos produced superior ideas than originally intended.
What are some coping mechanisms or creative processes you use that help maintain your creative well-being?
Personally, I try to activate the left side of my brain, so researching into foreign fields with zero knowledge alleviates creative obstructions. Moreover, blasting mixed genre music on shuffle at 100% volume. Chiefly, memories of my Dad and hugs with blindsiding jokes from my Mum never fail.
What is inspiring you right now?
Currently, I am interested in CERN, which operates the largest particle physics lab globally. It features the LHC (Large Hadron collider) where it forces opposing particles to strike into one another to scrutinise the creation of everything living and inanimate.
On an immensely simplified level, my design ethos is influenced by this-my work is the byproduct of opposing worlds colliding to understand how I came to exist. Additionally, I have a massive respect for everyone I follow on Instagram-especially the locals.
How important is it to showcase the lived experiences of Moana artists?
As of 2023, Oceania only accounts for way less than 1% of the 8 billion world population. That is how vital it is to showcase our lived experiences.
When your Fale-ship Residency is eventually launched online, what would you like people to take away?
"We're from the ocean, so we're always current."
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