I created this sculpture as a form of my journey connecting symbolism and emotions. My piece “Sanctum of the Soul” is influenced by storytelling my own personal experiences and observations of how people hide what they feel inside. Since as long as I can remember, I’ve always been drawn to expressive and symbolic art because it allows meaning to exist beneath the surface, not just in what is visible.

The most astonishing thing I have learned in my ceramics class is that your art does not have to be realistic to be powerful. It can be emotional, symbolic, and interpreted in different ways. I chose clay for this piece because it is physical and hands-on, which allowed me to shape the elephant into something that feels strong and protective while also hollow and fragile on the inside. My sculpture represents the contrast between strength and vulnerability. The elephant symbolizes something ancient, powerful, and protective, while the small human figure inside represents fear, anxiety, or emotional pain that people carry quietly. I want viewers to think about how everyone has something inside them that they are protecting, even if they appear strong on the outside.

When I create art, I feel a sense of calm and freedom. It allows me to express feelings that are hard to explain in words and turn them into something physical. Through this piece, I hope viewers feel empathy and understanding and realize that even the strongest beings carry something fragile within them.