Navi Tshibambe, School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts University
Ceramic;18 x 7 in.
About the work:
“Do you remember the story you used to tell us under flickering lights” is a 18” x 7” ceramic vase, but it’s more than just a vessel—it holds a memory, a fragment of a time long gone. It stands as an urn for childhood evenings when my older sister would sit my younger brother and I down to tell stories under the flickering glow of candlelight. Under the star-filled Congolese skies, she would use her fingers to make shadow bunnies who would embark on grand adventures traveling to the ends of the earth in search of their loved ones. These stories weren’t just make-believe; they reflected our own lives, waiting and hoping for the day we would finally be reunited with our mom and younger sister. The three bunnies hopping and searching through tall grass represents my older sister, younger brother, and I longing to be reunited with the other two bunnies hidden by the night sky.
About the artist:
As an artist working in metals, fibers, and ceramics, my practice is deeply rooted in material exploration and storytelling. My work draws upon personal and cultural narratives, often engaging with themes of identity, heritage, and transformation. Influenced by traditional Congolese artistic practices and contemporary craft, I investigate the intersection between function and narrative, creating pieces that serve as vessels for memory, ritual, and connection. My work seeks to create communications—between past and present, between personal introspection and collective experience. Whether through textile work, functional ceramics, or intricate metalwork, I strive to craft pieces that invite touch, curiosity, and reflection.