Unpredict
Rachel Z.
1st-gen wheel thrown ceramics (cone 10 high-fire), gas fired on steel board
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This piece was reinvented twice over, as was I. In debate, but moreso as an internet citizen, I’ve heard my fair share of mundane discussion. This piece originally represented the state of online speech, where no one listens nor speaks meaningfully– head-shaped mugs: eyeless, unwilling to see; openmouthed, speaking; hollow-eared, unlistening. To carry out my vision, I traveled to Jingdezhen, China, my mom’s hometown, in search of the perfect materials. There, I found the perfect kiln, the perfect glaze, the perfect clay, the perfect tools…I let out a held breath as I closed the kiln’s door, my mugs safely inside. Little did I know, the kiln’s heat would increase slightly too fast. And with one small error, my project literally crumbled overnight. But peering in front of the kiln, searching for a single intact mug, I saw the truth. The bits and pieces of colorful facial parts splattered over each other was stunning, orchestrated chaos. The story behind the cracked clay mouths and broken rims was a testament to what art truly was– not only the result, but the story of creation behind the creation itself. I continue to create for the vivid feeling of liberation in freely splashing bottles of glaze, crumpling a perfect mug, knowing there’s no ugliness to fear because ugliness itself is art. I crave unpredictability. During shipment back to the US, these pieces were lost. I will never see them again, but that’s okay. I’ve learned to covet beauty, and to let it go.
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Creativity is the beauty in broken things; the tenacity, failure, and resurrection in every single piece I create.
