What attracted you to your craft?
I craft symbols that resonate with both ancient wisdom and contemporary defiance with clay. These pieces are more than just art; they are embodiments of empowerment, inviting the viewer to traverse a realm where the sacred merges with the profane, and the ancient dialogues with the modern.
What does your typical day look like?
In my typical day, my cats wake me up at around 7 am. I usually have a short breakfast and then fulfill the orders from last day. I count the stock at the same time and make a rough plan about the making schedule. Afterwards, I walk to my studio and start to work with clay. At around 6:30 pm, I finish the work and clean the working area. Then I go back home and pack up the orders throughout the day. I try to get to the bed before 11 pm and have a good rest.
Does your product have an environmental focus?
H2 Studio is committed to integrating sustainability into the heart of our operations and creative processes. We strive to reduce material waste by continually refining our production techniques and reusing ceramic scraps and offcuts. We recycle the clay and glazes in production. We also minimize the packaging for our products. We use recyclable or biodegradable packaging materials to reduce plastic waste as much as we can.
What is the USP for your products?
Our products are both functional and decorative. Whether adorning dining tables or adorning individuals, H2 Studio’s work embodies a celebration of the wonderfully odd and delightfully magical aspects of life.
Where do you find inspiration for your designs?
Drawing from the depths of archaeology, myth, fairy tales, and fantasy, my work in ceramics and illustration not only showcases the technical prowess but also the profound ability to weave intricate narratives that delve into the essence of femininity and power. Influenced by ancient goddess-worshipping cultures, I utilize clay to challenge contemporary perceptions of femininity, embedding each creation with a narrative that speaks to modern feminism and societal power structures.
Please can you provide a little more info on how your interest in design started and developed?
I am deeply interested in creating art with clay. In China, there is a myth of Nüwa making humanity from clay. According to Robert Briffault and Erich Neumann’s research on the prehistoric myth and related archaeological evidence, pottery was invented by women and was regarded as a sacred process associated with the worship of the Goddesses.Therefore, I chose ceramics as one of the main vehicles for my creative experiments.
How would you summarise your collection in a few words?
Quirky, whimsical ceramic wonders that transport you to a fantastical kingdom of oddities and magic.
Does your work have a social impact?
I think so. I try to create the work not just a representation of aesthetic beauty but also a narrative tool that addresses inequality and explores avenues of self-empowerment, rooted deeply in my personal life experiences. For example, The Kissing Cup series is a practice to create a theatrical place through the using of the cup. When the user puts drinks into the cup, the nose inside will be drowned. It will be “saved” from drowning when the user kisses and finishes drinking from the cup, whilst simultaneously convey the message that gaslighting and emotional manipulation may look like the expression of love, but it is still dangerous and sometimes invisible in a relationship.
What are your hopes for the future/ where would you like to take your design career / collection?
I plan to combine the body sculpture with dining cutlery in my next tableware collection. It will be a fun challenge!