I found myself drawn to the human-made wave absorbing blocks designed not to resist the force of waves, but to absorb and disperse them through their porosity. This mechanism has become a powerful metaphor in my practice. Our inner world, much like the sea, is continually reshaped by shifting emotional tides. Can our emotions be softened and diffused in a similar way, not by opposing them, but by allowing space for them to pass through us?

In my practice, I try to recreate these monumental forms using modeling and air-dry clay by using my hands. Clay is a intimate material. This shift from industrial concreteness to handcrafted creates a deliberate tension. The blocks are originally a symbol of solidity and defense, becomes small enough to hold, shaped by touch.

‘Wave absorbing blocks’ are a general engineering concept that comes in over 100 different shapes and sizes, ranging in weight from 500kg to 80 tonnes. A large number of wave absorbing blocks are installed around breakwaters. This is because the breakwater itself cannot cope with huge waves, and the presence of wave-absorbing blocks can disperse the impact of the waves, thereby reducing the damage caused by huge waves. In addition, the installation of breakwaters creates habitat for fish and shellfish. Algae, seaweed and shellfish live on the breakwaters, and the organisms that feed on them gather here, thus protecting the marine ecosystem. 

Since the mid-20th century, countries around the world have developed a wide variety of shapes because each country faces distinct coastal conditions, engineering requirements, and construction practices, which in turn encouraged the creation of shape-specific designs. Japan, in particular, has produced an especially large number of distinctive designs. This is closely tied to its unique geographic conditions: an extremely long and complex coastline, frequent exposure to typhoons and tsunamis. 

I also found that each specific shape is associated with its own terminology. For example, tetrapods are one of the most classic and it refer exclusively to the four-legged shape. By reviewing the websites and product catalogs of the Japanese wave-dissipating block association and several related companies, I noticed that every distinct geometry tends to have its own dedicated term.

Sources: 日本消波根固ブロック協会；Higashionna Co.;