Wood Fired Porcelain, Wood

9” x 9” x 10.5”

2023

Grieving Chinese New Year is inspired by the red envelopes central to Chinese celebrations, adorned with the character 囍 (double happiness), symbolizing luck, joy, and prosperity. Given during occasions like Chinese New Year, these envelopes represent moments of collective celebration and cultural unity. The wood-fired moon jar reflects this spirit, embodying the warmth and festivity my grandmother brought to our family's traditions. Her presence made these celebrations deeply meaningful, and the jar honors her influence while symbolizing the vitality of cultural customs that connect generations.

Grieving Chinese New Year is inspired by the white envelopes, marked with the character 奠 (to honor the deceased), express grief and reverence during funerals. This character resonates with the moon jar’s interior that did not receive any wood ash during the firing, shaped by the unpredictable process of wood firing, which mirrors the shifting and sometimes fading nature of cultural practices after loss. Created in the wake of my grandmother's passing, the piece acknowledges the absence of her guiding presence and the void left in our traditions. The wooden stand beneath the jar anchors the work, connecting material to memory, and grounding the vessel in a narrative of resilience amidst the dualities of life and loss.