"THIS IS YOU" Ceramic Jar: RESILIENCE

I tried to come up with less complicated new products. I also wanted to play with textures, which would enhance an ash stain I intended to use. On top of that, I wanted to sell the new items at the Sculpture in the Park Show this August. That meant they had to blend well with the rest of my work. First, I copied a Japanese wood sculptor Enku's style, but sculpting cute standing monks no longer satisfied me. After failing to simplify my Little Buddhas, I said to myself, "The new products do not need to be human figures." That opened my horizon.

When I teach hand-building this year, I plan to have my students make "this is me" jars. The jar's exterior represents how others or society perceive the person; and the interior, how he/she actually is. Taking an idea from the project, I decided to create "this is you" jars. The rabbit on the first piece represents a person, who often hides or runs away from conflicts. Inside, he/she carries a turtle, which is a symbol of resilience.