Jilin Wang

About

I am an artist currently studying Ceramics and Glass at the Royal College of Art in London. My practice revolves around the aesthetics and vitality found in the processes of withering, decay, and decomposition in plant life. Through an ongoing dialogue with materials, I explore themes of time, death, and the natural cycle, seeking to rethink how we perceive impermanence and transformation.

Rooted in close observation and hands-on craftsmanship, my work often traces the transition of plant forms from full bloom to collapse. I enjoy blending clay bodies of different colors and textures, capturing subtle structural changes in leaves and flowers to reveal a quiet beauty within decay. To me, rot is not an end, but the beginning of life in another form.

My practice is deeply influenced by the philosophy of memento mori, as well as by both Eastern and Western understandings of death and the cyclical nature of life. Visually, I draw inspiration from Art Nouveau, favoring flowing lines, ornamental detail, and poetic expression. I often weave ceramics with illustration and botanical elements, creating delicate dialogues between material and metaphor—inviting the viewer to reflect on memory, time, and perception.