of ocean old

Throughout my childhood and teenage years, I lived close to the sea. The ocean was a daily part of our lives and my parents both loved it, each in their own way. Some of my favourite memories involve venturing out in a small wooden dinghy with my dad or uncle to catch crayfish. We would lower the nets into the water and with great effort attempt to haul them back up- most often with the help of stronger arms. Whatever we caught was either shared or prepared for a meal. Meals at home were always enjoyed around the dining table. There was love and care put into in all the food that was prepared, and we ate from beautiful plates. I don’t ever remember us eating from plain white dishes. My mother collected beautiful things—not modern or trendy objects, but items rich with history and character. She treasured the old, the worn, the authentic. Nearly every homemade meal I can remember was served on Willow pattern ceramics—English plates and bowls inspired by Chinese porcelain. Old Delft plates decorated our walls, nestled among other blue-and-white objects and fabrics. These designs and colours became part of the visual language of my upbringing. The chinoiserie crustaceans in my artworks draw from these layered memories. They combine the oceanic themes of my childhood with the ornate, historic patterns that surrounded me growing up. Through them, I explore a sense of nostalgia—for home, for safety, for beauty that is both familiar and enduring.