Facet 1 (blue), 2023Painted steel, Corten steel base 730 x 450 x 500mm on corten steel plinth(1200mm tall, 510 x 510mm base plate) Facet 2 (aubergine), 2023Painted steel, Corten steel base 730 x 450 x 320mm on corten steel plinth(1200mm tall, 510 x 510mm base plate) Facet 3 (purple), 2023Painted steel, Corten steel base 730 x 450 x 300mm on corten steel plinth(1200mm tall, 510 x 510mm base plate) For a number of years, Anna Korver has used sculpture to explore and question traditional and contemporary roles of women in society. Her works are feminine in their identity and perspective, inviting intimacy and playfulness. But concurrently her use of bold lines and geometric surfaces invite a masculine energy to the sculptures, a projection of strength and power. As a New Zealander living in Benin, Africa, Korver has travelled widely, participating in sculpture symposiums all over the world. Her practice has developed into exploring several specific series’, where the human experience is described from different perspectives - both literal and metaphorical. Some look at underlying questions about home as a transient concept, using symbols like the figure, the cube, vessels and sections of the landscape as reference points. These works explore the idea of home as an abstract term; sometimes inspiring a feeling of restriction or entrapment requiring armament and defence, and other times a shelter or sanctuary offering safety or protection. Korver’s sculptures are continuously curious about the connection of architecture to the human experience, of the links between people and place, and how the story and the experience of each go hand-in-hand. They are closely related, imprinting on each other subconsciously and consciously, however these sculptures become more about the deconstruction and reconstruction of the self via the symbolism of architecture. Korver’s latest series, Facets, sees petite dress figures poised on corten steel plinths. The sleek figures carry a sense of carefree joy, with the impression of charismatic movement implied through bold architectural planes. The meticulous high gloss automotive paint finish completes the dresses with a celebratory sheen and sparkle, while the more subtle corten steel plinths offer an earthy base for them to stand within the native bush setting. As Korver explains: “I use the form of the dress to speak about the celebration of women and their unique strengths but the faceted form also shows an armour of protection. So it is the balance of this lightness and delicacy within and the tougher, outer persona we choose to show to the world.”
