Brokenness Symposium

Oxford Brookes University - 29th / 30th April 2025

I will be attending the Brokenness Symposium at Oxford Brookes at the end of April. I will be discussing transitional objects and their ability to help emotional repair.

Abstract

Brokenness can feel like an ending, but it is a liminal space, an in-between state where something old has fractured but the new has not yet fully emerged. It is a moment of uncertainty, grief, and transformation—where identity, relationships, or beliefs shift, yet clarity remains elusive. This space can feel unsettling, yet it holds immense creative and emotional potential.

Making transitional objects offers a tangible way to process this in-between state. By working with found, broken, or altered materials, we externalize inner emotions and give form to change. The act of assembling, mending, or repurposing objects mirrors the process of reconstructing ourselves. In this way, transitional objects become bridges between what was and what is yet to come.

Creating in this space does not demand immediate resolution. Instead, it invites exploration—allowing us to sit with discomfort, to acknowledge loss, and to imagine new possibilities. Just as a shattered ceramic piece can be reassembled with golden seams, our own stories can be reshaped with intention and care. Through making, we honour the brokenness, not as failure but as fertile ground for renewal. In this liminal space, transformation is already in motion, waiting to take shape.