One amazing woman producing lots of amazing artwork, OM talks to sculptor Ahuva
Zeloof about how yoga inspires her both on and off the mat
T
he Old Truman Brewery in
east London recently featured
the debut solo exhibition of
London-based sculptor, Ahuva
Zeloof. With over 40 sculptures
of faces and figures produced over the past
year, Ahuva’s work explores her relationship
with the human body, its limitations and
expression. Yoga, understandably, is an
integral part of this.
Working predominantly in stone, or
wax and wire, she creates pieces that are
characterised by the sensuality of the
female form.om spirit
Carved of stone
Born in Iraq and having grown up in
Israel, the distinctive geographical profile
of the Middle East played a large role in
shaping her practice. Surrounded by stone
courtyards and the mountainous landscape,
she saw “images of women’s faces in the
profile of the mountains”. With her sculptural
heads, Ahuva carved facial features intothe raw material, juxtaposing the smooth
treatment with the fossil-like texture of the
stone in its organic state.
The sculptor developed a deep awareness
of the human body whilst teaching and
practicing yoga.
“I was introduced to yoga at an early
stage of my life, and ever since I have been
practicing it regularly,” she tells OM. “In
the late 1970s I felt that I needed to know
more about the subject and made the
decision to study it in depth. My study and
training lasted two intensive and thoroughly
enjoyable years, following which I taught“Yoga to me is like
coming home — once
I knew yoga there was
no going back.”