SEAL COMMUNITY: BETWEEN DIGITAL PLAYFULNESS AND CERAMIC SOULS
In Seal Community, I explore the intersection of digital imagination and material intimacy. Originating from my illustrated seal characters created in Procreate, the project transforms these playful digital beings into ceramic sculptures that embody warmth, companionship, and emotional resilience. Each piece represents a different personality such as curious, shy, or caring, forming a gentle ecosystem of emotional connection.
Drawing inspiration from kawaii aesthetics, video games such as Animal Crossing, and the rhythmic world of electronic music like Tobu’s Candyland, my work reflects on how cuteness can act as a language of empathy. Through tactile materials and symbolic forms, Seal Community celebrates the power of small emotions including joy, tenderness, and togetherness in a fragmented digital age.
About the Artist
Jiayi Zhu is a Chinese-born, Melbourne-based ceramic and cross-media artist whose practice bridges digital illustration, music, and material storytelling. Her works often transform playful digital imagery into physical forms that explore human connection, emotional vulnerability, and the gentle coexistence between people and objects.
Her practice reflects a balance between digital rhythm and handmade tactility, merging her background as a DJ with her ceramic training to create emotionally resonant and multi-sensory experiences.