Ceramic Sunflowers Series

When I emigrated to Holland, I became hyper-aware of the sunflower through Van Gogh's magnificent depictions of this grand flower that appeared everywhere. In nature, their golden brilliance follow the sun as it passes through the summer sky. Yet the phase that captivates me most is when radiant petals fall to reveal a large, darkening face as it hangs its head in mourning.

And yet, even in its dying days, the sunflower sows seeds of the future: feeding birds and dropping seeds to the earth. As a symbol of resilience throughout time, it mirrors not only the cycles of nature but also migration, how change can bring new growth in foreign soil. It symbolizes the natural balance between loss and hope, and offers a reminder that endings are always the beginning of something new.

My pieces represent the hollow skulls left when all inners have been shaken loose, journeys following the sun have ended, and all the nourishment one can offer has been depleted. This is a tribute to the remaining flower head, glorious in its final farewell.

Sunflowers

Glazed earthenware.

Varying life-sized wall pieces.