Freshwater is a stop-motion and 2D hand-painted short by Toronto-based illustrator and animator Olivia Wilyman. Blending drawing, mixed media, and experimental animation, Olivia crafts tactile narratives that highlight the artistry of handmade filmmaking.

Artist Statement
As a young girl, my family often pointed out my habit of staring at the mirror. I never knew how to explain this repetitive act, it was not out of vanity – I simply felt compelled to look. My house is full of mirrors: beside our dinner table, in my living room, beside my bed, they are all over the place. While ideating for this year-long project, mulling about my house and its many mirrors, I found myself reminded of one specific childhood encounter. I was six years old, sitting in front of the dresser in my mother’s room, staring at myself in the mirror, when I entered a trance-like state, feeling as though a different entity had taken over my consciousness. For a split second, I saw myself as a fish. I thought about this strange experience for years after. In researching for my film, I encountered many studies on out-of-body experiences, as well as the enhanced ability children have to connect to the spiritual realm. Children seem capable of entering an open state of mind with ease, whereas adults have to induce it with meditation training. In getting older, I have felt much of my youthful carefree mind change. I am still curious and creative, but it is not quite the same. This memory, research and contemplation were the catalysts for Freshwater.

The title of my film, Freshwater, is an ambiguous reference to the themes within the film, self-reflection, desire for a clear state of mind – Freshwater’s protagonist searches for the ability to see herself through unfettered eyes – through freshwater. Entering the years of adulthood, we begin to reflect on childhood, who we were, and who we have become, often coming to the realization that large parts of our past selves have changed and been lost. This process of reflection and self-assessment is a palpable human experience that I wish to represent in my medium. Stop motion, as well as hand painted animation, embrace and encourage imperfection and feelings of tactility. Using polymer clay, aluminum wire, and many different found fabrics and materials, I created two puppets over the course of January – March. It was a tedious process of sculpting and perfecting the visual aesthetic of the puppets, their facial resemblance, while simultaneously ensuring that they were functional and sturdy. My goal was to ensure the puppets shared elements in their colour palettes but still had distinct differences in their design to represent their respective ages. I hand crafted many of the film’s props and sourced others from my own childhood toy collection, as well as thrift stores. Freshwater is a reminder to embrace the parts of ourselves that may have been left behind in childhood, these parts of ourselves are still within reach.

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This exhibition is part of Trinity Square Video’s 2025 Vitrine Program