Nature and human existence go through endless cycles. The line between creation and destruction is thin. The struggle between connections and disconnections is infinite. Jeni’s work is an inner reflection of emotions and vulnerability towards attachment and separation in family, relationships, connection with nature and with life itself. The unsettling relationship between protection and vulnerability becomes the core concept of her work. Jeni’s process involves using materials including porcelain, silk, ink, threads and human hair, in order to reflect that reminiscence of life.
Family connections were naturally her first encounter with identity and influences in life. The desire to become independent and be a part of tradition is perpetual. The pull of togetherness and separation is magnetic. Confucius says, “Our bodies- from each piece of hair to every inch of skin- are gifted to us from our mother and our father. By not harming or wounding them, this is the beginning of Filial Piety”. Ancestral tradition is embedded in every individual, consciously or unconsciously, physically or non-physically, accepted or resisted. Just as expressions to your loved ones could be both earthly or ethereal.
The vision of protecting and nurturing a being marks the beginning of life and struggle. By incorporating natural materials into porcelain, the clay instantly becomes more fragile and vulnerable. The rawness of clay highlights the texture and solidity of the form. The fragility and softness of silk and human hair reflect the delicacy and uncertainty of being. Each piece of hand knotted thread represents the inseparable tie of femininity and fertility in the family. The experience of creating is a reflection of that inner vulnerability and celebration of hope.
