Circle of Heritage

  “All things are incomplete. All things, including the universe itself, are in a constant never ending state of becoming or dissolving. Often we arbitrarily designate moments points along the way as “finished” or “complete” but when does something’s destiny finally come to fruition? Is the plant complete when it flowers? When it goes to seed? When the seeds sprout? When everything turns into compost?”

-Wabi-Sabi spiritual values, Wabi sabi for artists designers poets and philosophers by Leonard Koren

Even though the deceased person may no longer be with us, their body remains. The body is composed of materials made up of chemical elements, each following its own cycle. These elements do not cease to exist with death; rather, they transform into new forms, potentially serving as the fertile ground for something else. Van Katwijk takes solace in this concept.

Van Katwijk repurposes cremation ash into bone china, an ancient type of porcelain that incorporates bone ash as a main component. This process enables the cremation ash to endure in a new form, revealing unique textures and colour details in the porcelain. Van Katwijk crafts objects from this material that offer comfort to those who are grieving. Unlike traditional urns, these objects can be used in personal rituals, providing a tactile or visual means to commemorate.

Billie makes the cremation ash porcelain commissioned in her studio in Amsterdam.
For more information, visit Bij Afscheid or get in touch via: studio@billievankatwijk.com.