Ornament

A pin piercing the cellophane membrane symbolizes a journey from resistance to surrender. Each prick of the skin highlights the painful cost of self-sacrifice. In my work "Ornament," I explore the themes of beauty, suffering, and the wisdom that can emerge from pain. Each piercing serves a distinct purpose: the first is for me, the second for my sister, the third for my friend, and so on, eventually accumulating into a bodice of pearls. The transparent cellophane reveals the sharp pins, illustrating the tension between external beauty and internal depth.

"Ornament" presents a contrast between the ideas of beauty and pain. The connection between a pearl—a cherished object—and the sharp steel pin emphasizes the complexity of a simple piercing tool. Just as a natural pearl forms in response to irritation within an oyster, shaped by repetitive adversity, my work reflects this process. I wanted the exterior of the cellophane to be beautiful, while the interior became increasingly painful to work with. Using large pins to adorn the form made me acutely aware of the potential pain from a slip. What began as a simple movement became a ceremonial acknowledgment of the complex relationship between beauty and suffering.