celebrating
Mother Earth
My main muse is Mother Earth, particularly the breathtaking land around the West Coast of BC on the unceded territory of the Coast Salish peoples, including the territories of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), Stó:lō and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (TsleilWaututh) nations, the territories of the Lekwungen speaking peoples of the Songhees, and the Esquimalt First Nations, as well as shíshálh (Sechelt), Tla'amin and Klahoose nations.
Inspiration comes from gratitude to Mother Earth and her offerings: scenic hikes, beachcombing, wildlife encounters, being in the garden, as well as the feeling of serenity, freedom, and recharging of the soul when ‘forest bathing’ (しんりんよく). I enjoy incorporating elements of nature, and aim to evoke a little bit of magic in what I make either by design or chosen ingredients.
Fine Jewellery:
Most pieces are oxidized to bring a sense of natural wear to echo darkened tones of antiquity with hints of dainty detail. I started this journey in 2015, and am inspired by antique jewellery, ancient temples, rustic countryside, and the curious allure of port towns. As of 2020, I have paused making jewellery to focus on pottery - remaining work still available to purchase. Intentions to re-visit this flame one day.
Studio Pottery:
Wheel thrown, often relief carved & sculpted. Every piece is unique, I work with each “lump” of clay to give form to what it wants to be. Careful trimming and experimentative glazing brings each piece to life. I had the opportunity to re-ignite my curiosity of working with clay in 2022 at Yunomi Ceramic Studio in Victoria, BC. A life-changing journey to Japan in 2023, particularly the adventure to Mashiko, was a huge inspiration and reinforced my purpose.
“From the Garden”:
Herbs & flowers from the garden infused in various oils used to create very small batches of healing salves, moisturizing lip balm, cold-processed soaps, & bath fizz. I started making these items for myself when I was tired of wasting money on products that caused my sensitive skin to react or triggered headaches from strong artificial scents. Each product is made in very small batches. I enjoy using essential oils, beeswax, and other gentle ingredients. No artificial preservatives, fillers, or toxic chemicals.
Thank you for visiting.
Yumi x
Artist Bio
Yumi (she/her/they) was born in Vancouver, BC. Her background is in classical piano performance and piano pedagogy, exploring various creative endeavours over the years. Upon diving deep within, she has found profound meaning in connecting to her lost Japanese and Hong Kong family heritage through art/craft, particularly handling clay, metal, and plants. Yumi enjoys creating tangible objects using her hands, telling non-verbal stories, and has a love for historical places and artifacts.