a deeper understanding
about each piece
tentacle dwellings
These pieces explore the interplay between the surreal and organic, drawing inspiration from the oceanic communities. The seashells symbolize protection, history, and the passage of time, which are then transformed into homes for the octopi. The octopus, showing fluid movements and elusive nature, emerges from these shells, creating a contrast between the rigid structure of the seashells and the fragility and adaptability. I adore how the octopus embodies resilience and curiosity, and by pairing it with a seashell, I want to invite the viewer to think about and reconsider those set boundaries between creatures and the environment. I want the viewer to think about how the octopi is reclaiming abandoned and broken shells and at the same time merging with them to become something entirely new, blending the rigid with the fluid. The glazing chosen for these seashells and the octopi is very intentional. I intended the glazed surface to evoke that shimmer of the depths of the ocean. So each piece can carry that sense of life and movement. I also contrasted the colors of the seashell and the octopus. Therefore, the beauty can be observed within the seashell and also in the octopus.
delicate grip
The singular octopus tentacle holding a balloon dog shows the contrast between artificial and organic, strength versus fragility, as well as deep-sea mystery versus childhood playfulness. This piece shows a tentacle reaching from the unknown and delicately holding a balloon dog, which is seen as a playful yet fleeting object that is tied to nostalgia and impermanence. The tentacle's careful grasp on the balloon dog suggests curiosity and playfulness instead of control. The octopus is interacting with something new and foreign, all while exploring it with the same dexterity that it would use to manipulate its environment. Balloon dogs are often associated with fun and lightheartedness while also showing delicacy because they can pop at any moment, Similar to the transient nature of life itself. The sculpture encourages the viewer to consider the connections between worlds: The natural and the manufactured. This asks what happens when two opposite forces meet. Does this show a moment of discovery or tension?
tentacular emotions
"Tentacular Emotions," explores the intersection of emotion and the subconscious. These ceramic faces capture human expressions of joy, fear, and anger while octopus tentacles emerge from them, acting as extensions of that emotion or thought. The octopus symbolizes transformation and hidden depths. The tentacles can be seen as internal struggles or reaching desires. In a way, they represent thoughts that we can't control, emotions that we can't hide. The tentacles also show the way our inner world extends beyond what we show on our faces. By combining everyday human expressions with octopus forms, these pieces aim to challenge the boundaries between the familiar and the surreal. The tentacles can be seen as something breaking free from us or taking hold, and even representing something that could have always been a part of us. I invite each viewer to make their connection based on their own experiences and how they perceive them. Each face is glazed in a powder white color to show the natural emotions that all humans experience without separating them. The octopus tentacles that are emerging from these faces are the only things with bright color. Emphasizing the area from which the tentacle emerges and the nature of the shown expression.
The joyful face shows the action of laughter with a tentacle emerging from the mouth, exploring the intersection of delightfulness and surrealism. The face, caught in genuine happiness, suggests playfulness and laughter. However, instead of a tongue, an octopus tentacle emerges, stretching out and curling around the face. This emotion represents uninhibited expression, emotions that spill out in a raw and unfiltered form. While also showing that laughter itself can be wild, unpredictable, and even sometimes unsettling. I encourage the viewer to think about the boundaries between delight and complete strangeness, as well as humor and transformation. The emotion of fear with tentacles emerging from the nose embodies the struggle between internal emotion and external expression. The face frozen in fear represents the vulnerability and anxiety of an unseen force. The technical coming from the nose, which is a space associated with our breathing that gives way to life, suggests a foreign or uncontrollable being surfacing from within.
Symbolizing the suppressed emotions we keep hidden that creep out, creating subconscious fear. Hinting at the suffocation that humans experience being overwhelmed by our own thoughts inside. I want to encourage the viewer to question whether the tentacle is an invasive force or if it can be an intrinsic part of us. The third emotion captures moments of raw and unrestrained emotion of anger, pain, and even madness. The face is contorted on a screen, which suggests an eruption of feelings that humans experience, and the tentacles emerging from the eyes add an eerie and unsettling element. Eyes are often referred to as the windows of the soul, and in this piece, instead of eyes filled with tears, there is something uncontrollable spilling from the eyes. These tentacles symbolize emotions that have grown to be too powerful to be contained. Showing the rage, frustration, and pure pain taking on a physical and tangible form. It shows the overwhelming force and thoughts, or even external influences, that happen in everyday life that distort our perception of reality. When looking at this, I want the viewer to think about their own emotions and how much they consume them or change them. I want them to think about the loss of control that they may have in their own life.
