Olivia Webb: Anthems of Belonging

Artist Talk: Dec 01, 2PM

In Anthems of Belonging, artist and musician Olivia Webb has worked with five families, from Kiribati, Zambia, Samoa, the Philippines and the Netherlands, to write, perform and film new anthems that reflect their feelings about place and belonging.

From the climate crisis in the Pacific and issues of racism and sexism, to finding strength in diversity, and the importance of family and bonds of community, the new anthems reflect the lives of each of the five families involved.

Together, these songs form a collective expression of our community, and the constantly changing nature of Aotearoa – with the families’ filmed performances projected life-sized onto The Dowse gallery walls.

“National anthems are usually songs that unite people,” says artist Olivia Webb. “They sing of a nation’s values, history and identity.”

“I wanted to make a work that sings of the contemporary lives of New Zealanders – songs about the multiple histories, identities, cultures, beliefs and traditions in Aotearoa. Maybe through listening to such songs we might come to understand ourselves and others in new ways.”

Olivia Webb: Anthems of Belonging will join six other exhibitions on display over summer at The Dowse – including Strands: Arapeta Ashton, Ayesha Green, Chevron Hassett, Ana Iti; Dirty Ceramics; Zina Swanson: For Vivian; Solid Ground; Nomads; and Light Fall: Studio Glass from The Dowse Collection. Spanning ceramics, textiles, watercolour, sculpture, photography, studio glass, and painting, there’s something to see for every art lover.