I created an emotional animation called 青花之夢 (The Porcelain Dream) that explores profound connections between cultural identity and the process of grief for Chinese young adults who experience loss. By using kintsugi as a metaphor, the animation questions how Chinese culture can impact the grieving process and the complicated emotions of acute grief: simultaneously feeling pain and sadness over loss while also experiencing intense yearning for any presence of deceased loved ones.
The animation is heavily inspired by my memories of my grandmother and my journey with grief, as I still mourn for her. The style is influenced by Chinese ink painting techniques which my grandmother taught me when I was a child, making this project much more meaningful and personal to me.
I find kintsugi similar to grief. Kintsugi is the art of repairing broken pottery with lacquer mixed with powdered gold; this highlights the cracks, embracing the history of the object and its imperfections. Similarly, in grief, the gold seams represent vulnerable emotions, yet also the cherished memories of lost loved ones. While the scars of grief may never fully disappear, they become symbols of resilience, growth, and a deeper appreciation for life.
