This month, we sat down for a quiet conversation on creativity and the wisdom of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Summer, with its longer days and gentle expansiveness, brings a different rhythm to how we create and live. For Srirat Jongsanguandi, a ceramicist whose work is shaped by patience and curiosity, this season offers space to slow down, to notice, and to explore without expectation. We spoke about rituals, finding balance, and the quiet moments where creativity feels most alive.

1. How does summer shift your creative rhythm? Is there a feeling or pace unique to this time of year in your process?
Summer is a time for me to slow down and be more present. I love feeling the sun on my skin, my feet on grass, and spending long afternoons outside, picnics with friends, barbecues in the garden. There’s a softness and spaciousness to the season that feels different from other times of the year. It becomes a moment to pause, enjoy simple pleasures, and let ideas gently form without pressure. It’s a time to cultivate thoughts and plant seeds for what might come next

2. The Fire element in TCM is about joy, expression, and heart. Where do you feel that most in your work right now?
For me, creativity is about freedom. The freedom to express myself without worrying about what the final outcome will be. It’s giving myself permission to explore, play, and learn purely for the sake of the process. That’s where I feel the most joy and connection in my work. There’s a spark that happens when I’m experimenting, discovering new textures or forms, and allowing curiosity to lead the way.

3. What does “burn bright, not out” mean to you? How do you recognise the difference in your own body or creative energy?
To me, burning bright without burning out means being completely honest with myself and how I’m feeling at any given moment. Some days, I’m full of energy and ready to create endlessly. Other days, I need rest, quiet, and space. I’ve learned to listen to my body and recognise when I’m pushing too hard. The difference is feeling expansive and alive versus feeling drained or scattered. Staying true to my own pace helps me keep creating without losing my spark.

4. Do you have a ritual that helps you move from stillness into creation? A scent, a sound, a setting that brings you into focus?
I definitely have a ritual that helps me shift into my creative space. I love lighting a scent, it instantly sets the tone and brings me into the present moment. The lighting around me matters too; it has to be bright but still feel warm and comforting. And I always have tea in my favourite cup nearby. Those little details create an environment that feels safe and inspiring. And if I’m ever feeling stuck, going for a walk in nature always helps reset my mind and brings me back to myself.





5. Fire clears, but it also connects. Is there something you've had to let go of this season in order to make space for something new?
This summer, I’ve let go of the constant momentum I usually keep in making ceramics. I’ve shifted some of my focus into baking bread. A process that’s also tactile, creative, and deeply nourishing. It’s been beautiful to explore something new that can be shared and savoured by many people. It feels like a different but equally meaningful way of creating connection.


6. How do you protect your creative fire? What boundaries or practices help keep your energy sustainable?
I protect my creative energy by giving myself time to ideate, research, and play without deadlines. Space away from the studio or from a specific project is so important. It allows me to come back with fresh eyes and new perspectives. I’ve learned that creativity thrives on balance. Pausing, resting, and even stepping away for a while makes me feel more inspired and energised when I return.

7. What does joy look like in your creative process? Is it playful? Quiet? Unexpected?
Joy shows up in many ways throughout my creative process, sometimes quietly, sometimes in moments of surprise. It can be something small, like the texture of clay between my fingers, or a big reveal, like opening the kiln and discovering how the glazes have transformed. I never fully control what the outcome will be, and that unpredictability is both humbling and thrilling. Those unexpected results remind me to stay open and curious.

8. What’s inspiring you up right now, personally or creatively?
Right now, I’m deeply inspired by the work my friends are creating, whether it’s through photography, scent, painting, or other beautiful forms of expression. It’s incredible to see how each person brings their unique vision to life. I’m also feeling inspired by sunflowers this summer. They’re so bright, bold, and tall. Reaching for the light, and reminding me to do the same.





Follow Srirat Jongsanguandi on instagram @sriratmakes
Visit their website at sriratmakes.com