Like Life Mar Vase

The Story Behind the Piece

This piece began with an accident. A vase I had made was going to be exhibited in Milan, but it arrived in pieces. I repaired it using a kintsugi-inspired approach and exhibited it that way. The result was unexpectedly beautiful, and it made me wonder: what if I did this on purpose?

Kintsugi is the Japanese practice of repairing broken ceramics with gold, embracing the cracks rather than hiding them. Its philosophy of finding beauty in imperfection resonated deeply with me and became the starting point for this work.

Yellow and pink are two of my favorite colors because they bring me a sense of joy, lightness, and playfulness. As I grow and learn, I find myself increasingly drawn to the idea that life can feel lighter—that embracing our imperfections and even our darker moments with humor and ease can help us let go and trust the journey.

I chose cobalt blue and gold to join the fragments, turning the breaks into something visible and intentional.

The smaller pieces left alongside the vase represent the parts of ourselves we leave behind as we grow. They may be left behind, but they remain important pieces of the journey.