Toteme SS25 Pop-Up: Olivia Bossy on Materiality, Consideration and Cal

Toteme SS25 Pop-Up: Olivia Bossy on Materiality, Consideration and Calm

In collaboration with Swedish fashion house TOTEME, we’re proud to present a SS25 pop-up at Incu QV, as well as a takeover of the windows at Incu Galeries Women's. Tapping into a refined Scandinavian energy that emphasises materiality and shape, the installations feature the NO.0122 Standing Lamp by Sydney-based artist Olivia Bossy.

Olivia’s work explores themes of intimacy, the poetics of function and the everyday. Her design narrative is expressed through lighting, furniture and spaces, building a textural world that encourages consideration and calm.

We visited Olivia at her brand new studio space in Sydney to learn more about her creative process, as well as her unique take on the idea of modern curation.

TOTEME DESCRIBES ONE OF THEIR FOCUSES FOR THEIR COLLECTION BEING AROUND THE IDEA OF MATERIALITY AND SHAPE — THIS IS SOMETHING THAT COMES ACROSS IN YOUR WORKS TOO. HOW DO YOU APPROACH THE DESIGN OF YOUR WORK?

I never really know where something is going to come from but materiality and shape, although very important, usually evolve as a secondary player.

I’m trying to siphon out some clarity to a million questions floating in my head and sometimes the inquiries themselves become pieces and occasionally they are answering them. It’s definitely a narrative based approach but those stories only live in my head and the work can just be well made, look good or be disruptive in some way to someone else.

YOUR WORKS HAVE A DISTINCT MODERN SENSIBILITY TO THEM — IS THIS A CONSCIOUS CHOICE?

I don’t try to fit them into any kind of era. I design with an imaginary character and their environment and behaviours in mind but that could be a tree dweller or a wealthy chain-smoker named Dorothy.

YOU RECENTLY MOVED INTO A NEW STUDIO — HOW DO YOU CURATE YOUR OWN SPACES?

I feel like curate is too strong a word for what I do with my own space. But that’s maybe because of publications throwing around this idea of the ‘perfectly curated’, where a chair will be expertly angled in a place where you would never actually sit.

It’s more a ‘happening’ — things come into my life and find their place. I guess it’s curated in the sense that I don't let a lot in. Most of what I do is second hand or trades with other designers/artists and it creates this kind of chaos until each thing settles. I definitely owe some pieces to other people so it’s really nice to now be making things with them in mind while I sit amongst their creatures.

HOW DO YOU APPROACH YOUR EVERYDAY STYLE?

I feel like I’ve lost some of what makes me excited about style by wearing workshop appropriate clothes most days. I like slightly odd forms in natural materials and maybe a bow if given the opportunity.