Media: Sculpey Clay
Dimensions: 5" x 5" x 3"
2013

This piece is inspired by the cultural traditions my mother has instilled in me. In Chinese culture, dinner is usually comprised of a bowl of rice and many savory side dishes. My mother always scolds me when I pile the different side dishes on top of my bowl of rice during dinner. She always says that the bowl cannot hold that much and that all the contents of my bowl will spill. I also tend to stick my chopsticks in my rice bowl, which leads to another scolding. The upright position of the chopsticks look like burning incense, which signifies death in Chinese culture. In an effort to stop my mother from scolding me every time I eat, this piece was created with the thought of two bowls; one for a bowl of rice, and another for side dishes. The grooves in each bowl allow for a place to safely secure chopsticks. It is through the awareness of history and traditions in which design becomes the source of communication and understanding between others.