My wheel-thrown ceramic work explores the bottleneck form as a metaphor for the unknown, balancing familiarity with uncertainty. The gentle tapering of this bottleneck profile serves as an invitation to contemplate what the vessel might hold, much like the mysteries of our universe. In this ongoing series, I strive to design pieces that will draw viewers in and urge them to engage with the narrow opening. This tightened entry point incites an element of curiosity, encouraging closer inspection and prompting thoughts of the unseen, the hidden, and the possibilities that are concealed within. It mirrors the way we approach the unknown in life: with a mix of intrigue and caution, wondering what lies just out of sight. 

For creation to occur, there must be space, both physically within the vessel and conceptually within the viewer’s imagination. The interior void becomes as significant as the clay itself, acting as a site of potential rather than absence. This space of not-knowing, of uncertainty, is what fuels curiosity and invites reflection. By narrowing the neck, I aim to amplify the viewer’s desire to interact with the object—to lift it, peer through the opening, or even give it a shake—creating a personal moment of engagement as the spectator examines the vessel more closely. Through this exploration, I hope to blend form and function in ways that transform the vessel from a static sculpture into an experience. In embracing uncertainty as an essential component of my work, I acknowledge it as the foundation of my own artistic progress and growth. Although the unknown can be unsettling, it also carries the excitement of new possibilities: an energy I strive to capture within each vessel.