This material research investigates the relation of the inner structure of the clay body to that of a building. A clay body is composed of a variety of minerals, akin to those used in constructing bricks and concrete blocks, embodied into a building’s inner structure. To refer back to the materiality of a pre-existing structure, reclaimed building materials are used as an alternative source of ceramic supply. Rethinking our resource use and exploring how we can connect our process with the story behind the material, we build relationships with the sources of our materials. We open up a new connection with their past lives. The array of materials used in production reminds us of how an object is a carrier of meaning or a story, while its previous use remains as a vestigial memory.

The material echoes the place. Crushed bricks, concrete, and tiles from demolition sites are utilized as additions to the clay body, for formulating glaze recipes, or as complementary parts to bond the forms in a series of ceramic vessels. Each material carries a story; an echo of its origins. What has been removed from its original context can serve as a powerful starting point for making. This body of work is about place; where things come from, and what we remember and carry forward.

The act of crushing and repairing bricks or repainting the concrete floor runs deep, rooted in memories of shared moments with my father and grandfather. Together, we would crush, paint, and repair these humble yet essential elements of our home, infusing them with care and significance. Repair is to find your way home. The annual ritual of brick renewal, just before Easter, symbolized not only a physical restoration but also a sense of spiritual homecoming. This work is an homage to the caretaking of materials.