Reclaiming Wonder is an interactive ceramic marble run through which I explore the value of child-like wonder in a world increasingly shaped by speed, productivity and disconnection from nature. The work grew out of my experiences teaching art to both children and adults, and noticing how easily we lose our sense of play and curiosity, held back by perfectionism and pressure. What began as a personal attempt to reconnect with playfulness in my creative process became an invitation to let intuition, surprise and the material lead the way.
The work is shaped by memories of growing up by the sea in The Hague, a fascination with bone-like shapes and a desire to stay close to my inner child. Inspired by writer and ecologist Rachel Carson, who saw wonder as the foundation of environmental responsibility, I see it not as something fleeting, but as a conscious way of seeing. One that invites presence, care and connection.
By inviting adults to interact with the work, I hope to offer a moment of playful resistance: a chance to slow down, engage without purpose and rediscover what once moved us. In a fast-paced world, choosing to wonder feels like a quiet, radical act and a way to reconnect with ourselves, each other and the natural world.
