A set of four hand-sculpted ceramic tiles, inspired by the flower tiles of mahjong and displayed together as one wall-hung piece.
A Winning Hand, is an ode to mahjong, this sculptural piece reminds us that wonder can fit in the palm of your hand. It reimagines the four traditional flower tiles that together are the "Four Gentlemen of the Garden": plum, orchid, chrysanthemum, and bamboo. Each is hand-sculpted in clay and given a whimsical spin: a blossoming moon cake, a flower reaching the clouds, a stalk strung with colorful lanterns, and a ramen spoon cradling delicate, draping blooms in place of noodles. Together, the four hang as a set.
This piece incorporates storytelling cues drawn from family memories of playing mahjong across the Philippines. The game has passed from my grandmother's weekend games with my aunt in Quezon City to my grandfather's after-lunch games in the neighborhoods of Kingsville, and now to a new generation of cousins learning to play. Wonder has a magic that transcends time: my grandfather's set, with its original ivory tiles, is still in play.
