Un:learn  Re:bloom

"Your mind (garden) will take the shape of what you frequently hold in thought (seeds), for the human spirit is coloured by such impressions."
– Marcus Aurelius, Meditation.

Ruby Yu-Lu Yeh’s wood-fire solo exhibition centres around the process of “unlearning” and “reblooming” through the flower-blooming metaphor. The feminine forms, the budding vases, the rigid cube structures, and the rocks are physical manifestations of her mind’s “garden”, inviting a conversation between flexibility and structure, vulnerability and stability. Floral openings emerge as a recurring motif, symbolising the initial stage of anthesis, subtle and uncertain, mirroring the complexities of unlearning. Ruby’s earlier cube sculpture vases are presented in a more closed-in form, representing the social conditioning imposed upon us, boxing us in. However, in this collection, the cubes have openings resembling petals, marking a shift towards inner transformation. Ruby invites viewers into a shared space of introspection, a glimpse into her mixed-culture identity, and the conflicts stemming from an Eastern upbringing in Taiwan for the first 11 years, followed by 24 years growing up in Australia.

This collection of work was fired in 1400 degrees Celsius anagama-style wood firing in one of the Zhunan Snake Kilns, single-fired without glaze. The wood ash, the flame, and the time required for this process impart finishes that have a life of their own. "Un:learn” and “Re:bloom" reflect the cyclical process of contemplation and reflection, self-awareness and growth. Unlearning is as essential as learning, and blooming requires rest and an open-minded reflection. This residency has allowed Ruby to reflect on the influence of Taiwanese culture on her identity and to learn, unlearn, rest and bloom into new perspectives.