Lantern Vessels — Jolie Ngo

“Lantern Vessel” is an ongoing body of work that reimagines the luminous geometry of Vietnamese silk lanterns through the lens of ceramic 3D printing. Built from interlocking panels, each form carries the visible seams and layered toolpaths of its making, holding both precision and imperfection in balance. Airbrushed gradients, patterned surfaces, and glints of metallic detail catch and release light, recalling the shifting glow of lanterns as they turn in the hand. While they often echo functional forms, these vessels occupy an in-between space—part sculpture, part container—where cultural memory and contemporary fabrication meet. Serving as the precursor to my illuminated works, this series explores how light can live within and move across an object, setting the stage for future pieces that fully embrace illumination as a central material.