Ceramic Flower – Flower Pink 11

I hadn’t intended to become the sort of person who hangs ceramic flowers on their wall, but here I was, standing in my living room, completely transfixed by what could easily be mistaken for a piece of coral that had somehow migrated from the ocean floor to my apartment. The ceramic art piece, a delicate assemblage of pink petals that cluster together like a colony of sea mussels, has become my latest obsession. “It’s abstract artwork,” I explain to my sister when she visits, though I can tell from her expression that she’s already formulating a story to tell at our next family gathering. The truth is, I’ve grown defensive about my wall art decor in the same way people become protective of their unusual pets or their decision to start collecting vintage potato mashers. The flower catches light in ways that make it seem alive, each petal casting shadows that shift throughout the day. Sometimes I catch myself talking to it, which isn’t as crazy as it sounds – at least that’s what I tell myself. It’s certainly less concerning than my neighbor who holds full conversations with her sourdough starter. My mother, when she finally saw it, simply said, “Well, it’s very you,” which I choose to take as a compliment, though I’m not entirely sure it was meant as one.