This thesis delves into the exploration of transcendental homesickness, the emotional distress experienced when separated from home, extends beyond mere physical absence; it encompasses the profound loneliness that compels us to seek meaning in our existence, understand the origins of everything, and contemplate our destination. Through tea - the cultural lifeblood coursing through the veins of Chinese, this exploration examines how we can elevate our meaning of existence to an aesthetic experience that fosters connections with the external world, the cosmos, and brings a sense of home.
Employing a comparative methodology, the study brings together ancient Chinese thought, Daoism, with early Western thought to modern cosmology and ontology, examining their similarities and differences in addressing the relationship between humans and the external world. As the outcome of the MFA research-creation, the exploration takes a tangible form through the creation of hundreds of drinking vessels and the arrangement of red tea generously contributed by our community with blessings and love, translating our profound connection with the objects surrounding us into a visual language, resonating with our transcendental loneliness as individuals, communities, and human beings.