Thesis Statement:
New Form Narratives is an experimental body of work featuring broken ceramic dishware, serving as an analogy for piecing a wounded identity back into a whole. Indirectly influenced by the Japanese art form Kintsugi, the narrative of filling in the gaps and pieces of a broken ceramic bowl aims to mend while also taking risks with the final outcomes. Through this fusion, a new form is created where the original form can never be recreated.
In my creative process, I start by making ceramic bowls and plates on the wheel. After they have undergone the bisque and glaze firings, I intentionally break them. The next step involves trying to reassemble the ceramic pieces using differently sized or shaped glass fragments. The vibrant, colorful glass, which has melted and cracked due to tension from the pre-fired ceramic body and glaze, serves as an imperfect seam. Occasionally, parts of the break remain exposed, depending on how the glass fused during the final firing. In some cases, fragments of the bowl cannot be recovered due to the size and type of break, leaving the raw red clay exposed and unfixed.
My work is profoundly personal and introspective, inviting audiences to explore the intricate themes of duality, fragility, loss, and vulnerability that shape the human experience. As both an artist and an individual, I see reflections of myself in what I create. In my mind, my bowls (and sometimes plates) visually represent my inner struggles, particularly my experiences with depression and attempts at suicide. The concept of mental illnesses, a subtheme in my work, can be harmful both physically and mentally. Like my bowls, I strive to become whole again, but some parts remain missing or imperfectly mended. Although I feel psychologically broken, my journey of healing means I am not entirely the same as I once was.
What I want viewers to acknowledge is the profound significance of this new form that emerges through my process. In my efforts to repair my ceramic dishware, each piece undergoes a remarkable transformation, shifting from its original purpose as a simple, functional object into a compelling sculptural work of art. This metamorphosis is not just about restoring functionality; it's a reimagining of the item’s identity, where cracks and imperfections become integral elements of the design. The interplay of texture and color serves to highlight the journey of each piece, inviting viewers to appreciate the beauty that arises from the act of repair and the stories embedded within each transformation.