The Lotus
Sarah C.
Ceramics
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During the Joseon Dynasty, referred to as the Golden Age of Pottery, patterns were intricately carved on vases. In my piece, the lotus carvings symbolize the love and good fortune that the people of the Joseon Dynasty sought. I hand-built the vase with historical and contemporary societal values in mind. Through this artwork, I aimed to illustrate how the pursuit of perfection and goodness—sought by people both then and now—is challenging due to various obstacles. Nevertheless, amidst trials and tribulations, people can flourish, which is represented by the golden crack in the vase. Despite the unexpected crack, the vase still holds its structural integrity and maintains an antique beauty. Additionally, the vase was built using traditional Korean methods in making a double wall; the inside vase is visible through the carvings. By doing so, I wished to emphasize current society’s values on looks, appearance, and perfection rather than looking inwardly.
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Creativity extends beyond my particular area of artistic expression and into other aspects. For instance, an individual, I believe, uses creativity when thinking about or doing something in a different way than previously done. The process of imagining or conceptualizing a new thought or idea involves creativity.