The Glittering, Dream Frequency World of Teva Livne
If there was any singular aesthetic to articulate the world I wanted to live in as a little girl—and still do—it would be the work of artist Teva Livne. Her work is an iridescent fairy offering of metallic butterflies, sparkling cats, and ephemeral shapes.
“Metallic pigments and glitter feel like entering the dream frequency, where I wish I lived also,” she says in the below interview with Very Famous. The dream frequency is exactly where her work reverberates. In a deeply, deliciously mysterious New York Times story on the secretive origins of glitter, Caity Weaver writes, “A theory that has found favor among research psychologists (supported, in part, by a study that monitored babies’ enthusiasm for licking plates with glossy finishes) is that our attraction to sparkle is derived from an innate need to seek out fresh water.” Teva’s work does indeed feel like fresh water. We chatted with her below!
Your art feels like pieces of a world I wish I lived in! How has your aesthetic been shaped, and how did your love for sparkly, metallic things come about/become part of your work?
As far as I can remember, I only gave shiny things attention, anything with glitz just blew my mind! I had a toy wand with stars and streamers that shimmered purple and silver light. I would glue gemstones on all the dolls. I’d go to department stores with my mom and bury myself in the racks of the ladies sequins evening wear section. They say fairies love shiny things, you can leave sweets wrapped in foil in the garden for them. I like maximum fun and glitter takes it to that level, so I add it to most paintings and sculptures. It makes everything less serious. Metallic pigments and glitter feel like entering the dream frequency, where I wish I lived also.
Where did the idea for the magical glitter cats come from?
I would make these tiny cats out of scrap clay that was left over from more functional ceramics I was making. At first, I was making them look like my cat, Feather. She had very long ears, a small face, and long body. Sadly, Feather passed away and she was so young. So I started making larger cats, mini cats, and in different materials with various finishes, glazes, and pearlescent pigments. To celebrate Feather, I added glitter to the cats, along with beads, stickers, buttons and other embellishments. I’m obsessed with cats!
What and who inspires you?
Butterflies, perfume bottles, animals, buttons, Anna Sui, slime, flowers, disco, Jan Svankmager’s Alice, rock stars, kid’s clay work, the mystical arts, swirls and shells, dolls, The Tales of Hoffman, Lush soaps, fairy realm, ribbons, mist, Tim Burton, velvet fabric, Beetlejuice, and frosted eyeshadow.
What is your work process like?
I work in a small nook on the side of my bedroom that I use as a studio. I work on multiple projects at once. Everything is speaking to each other, and I keep track of incoming information in piles of sketchbooks and lists. I’ll work on multiple paintings and while paint is drying, I’ll make a creature out of polymer clay. Then, I’ll glue a fake flower to a wobbly ceramic vase, add pearl beads to a cat, and go back to paintings.
The studio is in a maximalist state—dyes, glues, charms, felt, fabric everywhere—I try to keep the walls bare to maintain an area where the brain can be blank. It’s important to be able to see everything because I never know what’s coming. Nothing is planned, it’s just play. I get inspired at night.
What are three things that make you feel Very Famous?
Incense, dancing, jokes and tricks.
Lastly, where can we find your work, and are there any future projects coming your way that you can talk about?
For now, most of my work is on Instagram @tevalivne. I’m finishing my website soon, and I have a few items on Etsy! I’m working on sewing projects, printed clothing, dolls…my background is in textile design, so I’m dreaming up a few printed ideas.
**Now! A rapid-fire round inspired by Twist‘s 1999 interview with Britney Spears.**
⭐️Name: Teva Livne
⭐️Sign: Pisces
⭐️Occupation: Artist and Textile Designer
⭐️Disco music puts me in a good mood.
⭐️Nothing makes me want to dance more than: Techno
⭐️Sexy is: Self-awareness
⭐️ If I ruled the world, I’d: like it to be like Trolls the movie.
August 31, 2023
In "Features"