Other side of the sea (Little Tokyo)

These two works are created after I moved across the ocean to live in Los Angeles, fleeing Russo-Ukrainian War.

Broken cups in these fragile balancing constructions are part of my props that I've brought from home, managing to pack my life into two suitcases. Displaced, but still at work.

Magnolia cone, strange thorns, ginkgo leaf and other (very unusual to me!) botanical forms were found on the streets of Los Angeles. Finding these strange, vibrant and diverse plants gave me not only a form of comfort, but also a sense of resilience and a hope for adaptation. Plants, surviving LA climate echo the strength of those forging new lives in unfamiliar lands.

These balancing constructions (where every articifial element is brought from my home and every natural one is found on the other side of the sea) are meant to evoke the transformative power of nature in nurturing our spirits to to persevere amidst challenges, finding solace and comfort in elegant botanical forms.

I wonder how these Californian garden findings will now grow on Far Eastern broken porcelain.