Saddness ritual objects

I created this artwork for a dear friend who wanted to engage with their sadness and experience of grief in a tangible way. The piece is designed to facilitate a daily ritual that allows them to process their emotions and find solace in the ever-changing nature of grief.

The artwork is made using a standard clay body and crafted in the raku style, incorporating strands of my own hair. Each piece is formed to fit comfortably in the hands, providing a sense of personal connection and intimacy. The ritual involves sprinkling Essex sea salt, sourced from the place near to where we both grew up, into a small jug filled with naturally collected water. The water is then poured through a tiny, punctured 'spoon', which allows the salt water to fall in delicate 'tears' onto a larger piece of rock salt.

As time passes and the ritual is repeated, the salt deposits will grow and transform, mirroring the way grief shifts and changes over time. The use of salt in this artwork is inspired by various superstitions that regard salt as a protective and cleansing element. Through this functional and symbolic artwork, I hope to provide my friend with an object-led activity to explore their emotions, connect with their grief and ideally find a sense of healing and cleansing, even if in some small way.