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Vessel of My Emotions

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This ceramic jar  demonstrates the encapsulation of my emotions. The jar itself is adorned with multiple facial expressions: anger, frustration, happiness, and contentment. Anger and frustration are the emotions that plague me the most, and happiness and contentment show that even though I am able to experience certain positive emotions, there remains a lingering sense that darker and more negative emotions are often the dominant ones. The red string is representative of my life experiences. Just as the string is imprinted in the faces, it symbolizes how they shaped not only my life, but also personal emotions related to my experiences and pain.

Initial sketches for this project were inspired by traditional Korean face masks (탈), or tal, which embody exaggerated expressions. The faces themselves on my final project remain true to this idea, as the facial expressions were inspired by the dramatic nature of tal. However, one of the major changes made during the planning process was the incorporation of the ceramic jar, which represents myself, and how I am a vessel for my emotions.

Overall, the significance of this piece lies in its apparent simplicity, but upon deeper look, the complexity that it holds. The monotonous black tone of the jar makes it seem simple at first, but the detail behind each expression represents the tensions between silence and emotional expression. The faces are more than just to adorn the jar – they show the weight of my experiences, showing how emotion greatly impacts one’s identity. Furthermore, the hollowness of the jar shows a sense of emptiness, stemming from constant repression of my emotions, and the struggle to freely express myself. Finally, the string represents the trajectory and hope behind my life experiences, and the impact it has had on me emotionally. Though a darker hue, the small touch of color on the rope demonstrates a sense of hope: that I will one day be able to break away from this feeling of containment to my emotions. My life is not and will not continue to be filled with the anger and frustration that I experience so often, but that I can look towards the future with hope that I can one day move away from this burden in my life.

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