This project began with just shells. Their texture, form, colour, layers, surroundings, and meaning excited me, and I wanted to work with them. For the narrative of the senses project, I linked them with my favourite fairytale, "the little mermaid," by Hans Christian Andersen. I wanted to make the world he describes so beautifully come alive, so I created the mermaid's castle and her lily wreath. The broken pearl protected by the shells symbolizes her sacrifice and her suffering, making her character come alive, too. For my pieces, I worked with a variety of processes and materials, including shells, wire, beads, fishing line, seaweed, and several grains. By exploring these materials and the processes they bring with them, I learned a lot in this short time, and if I had more time, I would have gladly continued this project.













