Scramble battle for December. 2024. paper collage. 43 x 55 cm
Lucky Charm. 2024. epoxy clay. 28 x 55 x 6.5 cm
detail cut
My birthday falls on December 27. But as anyone with a late-December birthday knows, it’s easy to be overshadowed by the tidal wave of year-end celebrations.
When I was little, my birthday cakes often came with a “Merry Christmas” piped in bright frosting across the top of the cake. There was never any room for a simple “Happy Birthday”, as the cake was always decorated to the brim with holiday cheer. That missing phrase, or maybe the fact that it didn’t feel missed by anyone else left me feeling left out and alienated.
This work is my playful way of revisiting that childhood feeling. I imagined a miniature rebellion: a fleet of stars — my favorite symbol — rising up to reclaim the spotlight from the all-consuming presence of Christmas. A proud little star leading the charge to take center stage. It’s lighthearted, but also subtly defiant. The stars sparkle as they march onto the year-end stage, to compete, simply saying, “Christmas is mine!”
〈 Scramble battle for December 〉 started from a personal memory, but it speaks to anyone who’s ever wanted their own moment to shine. It’s a humorous and symbolic take on that very human desire to be seen, to be celebrated, and to not disappear in someone else’s spotlight.