Scherven brengen geluk
*school graduation project
With “Scherven brengen geluk” I explore the fragility of childhood through the delicate nature of ceramics. From my fascination with nostalgia and my longing for a childhood that wasn’t always carefree, I began working with ceramics, a material that, much like childhood, seems sturdy but breaks easily.
The tableware is reminiscent of the children’s sets from the past. What was once made of unbreakable plastic is now fragile ceramic, symbolizing the vulnerability of childhood.
For this project, I invited members of a therapy group to draw or paint a beautiful memory from their childhood onto ceramic plates. From personal experience, I know that it can sometimes be more difficult to recall the good memories than the painful ones. For many, this was a challenge, how do you start thinking about something good when you’re used to focusing on the negative? But as we began talking about summer or playing outside, the stories slowly began to flow. It turned into a beautiful conversation, and many smiles appeared along the way.
After finishing, I gave them a choice: keep the plate whole, or break it. There was no wrong choice, and both carried deep meaning. Some found it liberating to let go and “start anew.” A new plate emerged, and they recognized the value in the shards themselves. Others preferred to keep theirs intact, proud of the image they had created.
I documented this process, along with their stories, on video. The installation consists of these filmed moments, the painted and broken plates, and fragments from my own childhood.
A plate, like a childhood, can break. Yet there will always be beautiful pieces that remain. With “Scherven brengen geluk” I want to show that naming, holding onto, or even literally breaking moments can be a way of seeing them differently. I hope my project encourages people to pause and reflect on their own childhood, to recall the joyful moments like playing outside or that sunny day at the beach, and gently embrace who they are today.
This project was exhibited at:
Would you like to know more about this project? Feel free to contact me at: rstroeven@me.com
The tableware is reminiscent of the children’s sets from the past. What was once made of unbreakable plastic is now fragile ceramic, symbolizing the vulnerability of childhood.
For this project, I invited members of a therapy group to draw or paint a beautiful memory from their childhood onto ceramic plates. From personal experience, I know that it can sometimes be more difficult to recall the good memories than the painful ones. For many, this was a challenge, how do you start thinking about something good when you’re used to focusing on the negative? But as we began talking about summer or playing outside, the stories slowly began to flow. It turned into a beautiful conversation, and many smiles appeared along the way.
After finishing, I gave them a choice: keep the plate whole, or break it. There was no wrong choice, and both carried deep meaning. Some found it liberating to let go and “start anew.” A new plate emerged, and they recognized the value in the shards themselves. Others preferred to keep theirs intact, proud of the image they had created.
I documented this process, along with their stories, on video. The installation consists of these filmed moments, the painted and broken plates, and fragments from my own childhood.
A plate, like a childhood, can break. Yet there will always be beautiful pieces that remain. With “Scherven brengen geluk” I want to show that naming, holding onto, or even literally breaking moments can be a way of seeing them differently. I hope my project encourages people to pause and reflect on their own childhood, to recall the joyful moments like playing outside or that sunny day at the beach, and gently embrace who they are today.
This project was exhibited at:
- Exposure HKU Media / Graduation Exhibition 2025
- Dutch Design Week / Design Perron 2025
Would you like to know more about this project? Feel free to contact me at: rstroeven@me.com
Still pictures of the video
