The Embrace, 2024

Clay, glaze and dried flowers.

Dimensions: 14”x 9” / 9” x 7” / 6” x 4”

First exhibited at Goldsmiths University, London in an exhibition titled “Parallel Process” which brought together the cohort of training Art Psychotherapists.

Inspired by Frida’s “the love embrace of the universe, earth, myself…” and Robin Wall Kimmerer.

Clay offers a tactile exploration of the earth. Instead of scientific instruments, I can trust in the use of my senses. Instead of learning the Latin names, I have spent time looking at the beings themselves. I have imagined living in a house with no walls or corners, lent my back against the saplings and considered this convergence of design. I like the model of nests, dens, eggs and the universal cyclic and sphere-shaped homes.

The pieces share insight into my first clinical placement. The eggs are symbols for my clients, the nest; me, a therapist. The robin, a supervisor. I have continued to return to the split between the mind and body, recognising the importance of them being thought of together, in Unison. Especially recently, in this stark landscape of divides. Always I hope to return to the cyclical nature of mother earth; to question the language we use and to consider the restrictions and narrow mindedness of science.