my technique
Working with Nerikomi
Nerikomi is a traditional hand-building technique that involves layering and slicing colored clay to create patterns that run through the entire form. I begin by tinting clay, mostly porcelain, with ceramic stains, then assemble the colored clays into patterned blocks, similar to candy making. Once the design is set, I slice thin cross-sections to reveal the pattern inside, which are then carefully joined and rolled into slabs.
What I love about Nerikomi is the balance between control and spontaneity. Each piece is unique, with its own rhythm and variation. The pattern isn’t applied on the surface; it’s embedded in the clay itself, becoming part of the object’s structure and story.
My process
Slow Making
My practice is rooted in slowness — in allowing time, repetition, and focused attention to shape each piece. I work alone in my small studio in Denmark, where making becomes a quiet rhythm between hand and clay. Every step is intentional: mixing color pigments into the clay, building patterned slabs, and shaping each form with care.
I color the clay, craft intricate patterns, and assemble vessels one by one. Each piece dries very slowly and get trimmed and sanded with gentle precision. Then they are fried twice. Each stage marked by its own stillness: a pause, a breath, an invitation to notice.
To me, slow making is a philosophy of presence — a way of staying deeply connected to the material, of embedding care into every action, and of embracing the quiet lessons found in frequent failures. It’s about creating objects that carry more than function — they hold feeling and a suspended moment in time.
My philosophy
Tradition meets modernity
I see clay as a medium for storytelling — tactile, grounding, and endlessly expressive. I’m inspired by childhood wonder, the magic of color, and the everyday poetry of objects that are both functional and expressive.
Having studied and lived in Asia, the US, and Europe, my aesthetic has been shaped by a blend of cultures and perspectives. While my Chinese heritage grounds my approach, I’m equally drawn to contemporary design. Studio Nüwa is where I hope tradition and modernity meet — a space for storytelling through clay.