Serotiny
Hand-built paper pulp clay, hand-painted
34 cm (H) × 74 cm (circumference at widest point)

Serontiny is a sculptural vessel shaped in the shadow of the Victorian bushfires, carrying within it a quiet trace of that moment in time. While drying, fine ash from the fires settled into the base of the form which encouraged reflection on the role fire plays in our sensitive ecosystem.

Lovingly hand-built from up-cycled paper pulp clay and finished by hand, the piece holds a gentle tension between fragility and endurance. Its softened contours and layered surface speak to vulnerability, while its presence reflects the strength found in persistence and care.

This work reflects the process of serotiny, whereby fire is necessary for Australian native plants to open their seed pods to release seeds into fertile ground after fires.