Ceramic Fortune Cookie

"These pieces are made like regular fortune cookies, but in ceramic. Each one is hand formed from a porcelain stoneware mix, glazed, and fired. Each fortune cookie include a fortune, just like their edible counterparts.

Each fortune cookie has the same basic form, but the glaze responds differently depending on its placement in the kiln. Some surfaces become softer, brighter, more speckled, or more uneven than others. I see this variation as part of the work. Even when the pieces begin from the same gesture, they do not come out the same. For me, this connects to queerness and identity in a quieter way. We may share certain names, communities, or histories, but each person carries them differently.

The different glazes become a way to think about individuality, difference, and belonging without forcing everything into one image of pride. They look familiar at first, like something sweet and easy to consume, but each one holds its own colour, surface, and fortune."

Glazed Stoneware
Approx. 5 x 4 x 3 cm

Christopher He is a mixed-media artist living in Waterloo. Inspired by personal experience, self-identity, and cultural traditions, He's work explores cultural diversity through playful yet deeply meaningful forms. He balances nostalgia and storytelling in his ceramics, transforming everyday objects into reflections of heritage and identity.