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Ceramicist Rachel Ho will be leaving 120 scarred pots throughout the Greenbelt site for people to discover and keep as gifts.
Her scarred pots are inspired by kintsugi, an ancient Japanese method of mending broken pottery with gold, as a result, the pots become more beautiful and precious. The porcelain pots are intentionally scarred to symbolise the fragility of our lives. These scars are then filled with gold lustre; expressing the mystery of new beginnings and new life even in our deepest pain.
In recent years Rachel has partnered with a number of art festivals; leaving hundreds of scarred pots on the streets of Stoke, Manchester and Belfast for members of the public to find and cherish as gifts. Some members of the public went on a pilgrimage to find the pots others just serendipitously discovered them. People were invited to upload an anonymous comment on how the pot resonated with their story, with some of those reflections shared below. Rachel is now bringing her project to Greenbelt. The aim of the project is for people see their own scar reflected back to them and to feel less alone. The project is a window in our shared human condition that we are all scarred.
“While one might want to see Rachel’s scarred pots as operating within the tradition of kintsugi – where pots that become cracked are repaired with gold or silver – what makes her work stand out is the way that the pots are wounded from their very creation. They do not speak of a primal wholeness that became cracked, but hint at a fundamental wound at the very heart of being. While many have found themselves able to reflect on their own personal wounds through an engagement with this artwork, there is a communal dimension to it. Each scar is unique, yet every pot is marked. There is no exception to the cut. In this way, Rachel’s work embodies the psychoanalytic idea that we are divided subjects. That our existence is marked by an ordinary wound. A wound that we can attempt to cover over, or directly embrace.”
Pete Rollins – Philosopher, author and public speaker
Rachel Ho has a passion for creating ceramic art that expresses and explores aspects of our human condition. Her art is mostly wheel based but she also uses other techniques such as paper clay. After graduating in Fine and Applied Art at the University of Ulster in Belfast, she continued her training by completing the DCCol Ceramics Skills and Design course in Co. Kilkenny. Rachel further developed her skills by working professionally in various potteries in Ireland and New Zealand. Rachel’s art has been displayed in a number of exhibitions in major cities in the UK. Recently, Rachel partnered with several art festivals to lead a public art project across three cities, promoting healing and collective belonging. She is deeply fascinated by themes of beauty and brokenness, drawing inspiration from the ancient Japanese technique of kintsugi. Rachel also facilitates immersive and creative workshops for charities, community groups, and conferences, helping participants honour their own wounds and stories. In addition, she engages in public speaking to share valuable insights about the value of art and beauty.