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Sculpture
Urn for After My Last Quarter at UCLA
Ceramic
19.5 x 9.5 x 9.5 in
May 2016
What are memories of school but yearbook snapshots I tuck away into a drawer? Ashes of such a life I led at a home away from home deserves a urn as unique as my own journey to be buried and reborn in. Like gravestones of heroes, it is a relic to mark all the tragedies, triumphs, and stories of an illustrious time.
Zhurong
Ceramic
6 ft tall
January–March 2016
Zhurong is the prequel of another work, Chinatown Hangover. Zhurong is the Southern God of fire. Ceramic has long been associated as a vessel. The piece was originally a large traditionally painted Chinese jug in which I was planning to marinate my grandma’s wine recipe. The dragon and symbols painted on the vessel represent strength and eternity. However, upon the revelation of the piece after the firing, its purpose can not be served: the vase cracked and slanted to the side as if kicked by the God of fire himself. Coincidentally, the same day, I came across a picture of a God riding twin dragons. With closer inspection, the painting depicted Zhurong in the Classic of Mountains and Seas, 1597. It is also interesting to note, the second character of Zhurong, (‘Rong’ ?) is combined of two radicals, cauldron and snake. With new unanticipated knowledge gained, I repurposed the piece and added elements to create the shrine and honor the moment Zhurong decided to kick over my jug.
Chinatown Hangover
Ceramic
6 ft tall
January–March 2016
High-Fire Ceramic Chinatown Hangover is the result of much contemplation about my piece Zhurong. With great courage, I hammered the large standing jug into small shattered pieces. The jug was strongly built: the process of destruction wasn't easy. Finding the point of destruction was not easy either. Furthermore, in the process, flying shards hurt me as I tried to break this body of fired clay. The act of deliberately breaking this piece taught me to be bold as an artist. I learned that a beautiful past must be broken for a new mentality to be built to shatter tradition and status quo.
Heartbreak Wind Chime
Ceramic; Video
Approx. 1 x 2 x 0.16 in, each petal
February 2016
Love is as beautiful as a rose and many times symbolized with roses. Though petals drift away beautifully, heartbreak share none of the freedom; you hang on to them and they tug at you as a painful wind-chime to remind you of all the tragedies: of what was, and what could have been.
Fractal
15 x 12 x 8 Inches
Ceramic
2015
High-Fire
Fractal is a work created to challenge the capabilities of Big White clay, a difficult medium that warps and collapses very easily. Fractal is a figure 8 shaped piece that both challenges the concept and deliver the purpose. Its name means a mathematical fraction that never ends despite the latin etymology meaning "broken". This funny juxtaposition of an unyielding equation and a fragile material uses the idea of infinity to inspire us that boundaries and limitations are further than we think.
Time for Tea
Ceramics
Various sizes
June 2015
Tea is an important part of global culture, with every one having their own exclusive rituals of consumption. It brings out the intimate; friends talk about families, sad stories, and gossips over a cup of tea.
In history, tea also once served as a proclamation of freedom. It can be as cheap as water, but can also be a more expensive than gold. Sometimes one likes it pertaining to their own unique culture, sometimes one likes it fusion.
This tea set is a eclectic representation for individuals that enjoy tea, with its own value and diverse cultural associations.
The entire set resembles a setting in classic Chinese garden paintings: rain, lotus, and pond portrayed through styles and color. American plastic utensils channel young millennials consuming tea and dessert in modern, fast-paced, setting like boba shops. In contrast, important element such as a Japanese tea grinder and hot kettle are instruments that bring to mind slow-paced traditional tea ceremony.
Blooming Tower
15.5 x 4.5 Inches
Ceramic
2014
High-Fire.
A vase is at times an architectural structure. It is interesting to note that architecture is the study of building shelters and homes for humans. Similarly, flowers brings warmth and joy. Even when this vase has no flower, a patch of stone shaped as ephemeral flowers wrap around the vase. Like architecture, this little tower brings warmth and intimacy through its beauty to any family gathered around it.
Frustration
Ceramic
12 x 6 x 4 in
January 2015
Anxiety is a cancer (Latin for crab); terminal, difficult to treat, nigh impossible to live with. It cuts your nose to spite your face, stifles your breath, holds you hostage and vulnerable. This crab is a plight that only you yourself can see, that you carry with you, almost as an attachment to very head that sits upon your shoulders. Anxiety is your own frustration that others cannot see.
Futura
Recycled material
3 x 4.5 x 1 ft
March 2014
As our world is being transformed by innovation, technology has replaced God as the eternal giver and granter of wishes that we put our faith in. Through different channels of media, we give more of ourselves and our wealth into a new altar of worship.
This sculpture portrays an entire universe emanating from technology’s power. All things orbit around the lines of energy across the globe, the twisting singularity in the center literally dictating the space itself
Samurai Lamp
Recycled ceramic, plastic, paper
4.33 x 4.33 x 6.3 in
2013
Fountain
Metal, skim coat, and glass on wood
7.8 x 11 x 22.5 in
2012
Sunflower
Clay on Wood
19.5 x 19.5 in
June 2012
Ultra-Light Clay.
Sunflower is my tribute to Van Gogh, and a memento mori I made for myself from clay, alluding to mythological and biblical stories in which humans were shaped from clay by the gods. This piece represents both life, and death. Van gogh led such an unhappy life, but is remembered for painting such warm subject for a happy occasion. I feel as I am like a sunflower; optimistic, and always facing the light. Hopefully my life can be remembered as generally happy. However life is short. My beauty lasts as long as a flower, and to higher beings, our lives as short as ladybugs.
Unmasked
Metal, plastic, feather, and clay
10.5 x 10.5 x 15 in
2012
