Emberbloom

Traditional Chinese culture views mountains, waterways, plants, and trees as spiritual entities and lives in peace with them. Since childhood, I've noticed small changes in plants as the seasons change. I perceive nature as a spiritual reverberation and emotional fulcrum. I thought fire was the end since I was scared by the 2019 "Black Summer" in Australia's highlands and woodlands. Moving to Sydney has made fire engines, dry and hot weather, and fire alarms routine. I've also learnt about fire's complex ecological link with this area.
Fire marks both devastation and fresh beginnings. I didn't understand this until I entered the charred woodland and saw the fire blossoms stubbornly blooming in the mud. New buds from the ashes depict the earth's whispering response to vitality.
After-fire plants that have recovered from fire serve as the inspiration for the "Emberbloom" line of brooches. It uses titanium 3D printing and anodizing technology in conjunction with traditional Chinese iron painting methods to produce resilient and dazzling flower designs. Titanium reflects the strength of rebirth, while the iron frame represents the memory of the land after burning. As a cross-cultural contemporary jewellery artist, I hope that this series of paintings reflects the life resilience and survival intelligence of plants that sprout after a bushfire.
This work of art also makes me think: Do we consider fire to be a catastrophe too often? In actuality, fire has a vital and intricate part in the biological cycle. We should rethink our connection with fire, take inspiration from the adaptation and rejuvenation of plants, and acknowledge our human responsibilities in managing the environment and fire.