Moments That Matter #1 with Georgina Yen Qin Lee

At Shoku Iku, community is at the heart of everything we do. In a world that can sometimes feel busy and disconnected, we believe it’s deeply important to celebrate the people and stories that remind us of what truly matters. Moments That Matter was created to share the voices of those in our community who are living with intention, care, and authenticity. By opening up their rituals, values, and everyday inspirations, our hope is that we can all feel a little more connected, to ourselves, to each other, and to the simple joys that make life meaningful.

Georgina Yen Qin Lee is Melbourne-based artist and designer. Her work explores identity, migration and cultural inheritance, reimagining functional forms as vessels of memory that reconnect fragments across time and place.

Explore Her Work Here

1. Who are you, in your own words?
I’m a curious, slightly stubborn person who likes making beautiful things with meaning. I’ve always moved around in the in-between spaces of culture (Chinese Malaysian Australian) and careers (both corporate and creative). I think these liminal spaces are where the most interesting things happen. These days, I spend most of my time working with ceramics, building a slower, more intentional life, and reconnecting with my cultural heritage.

2. What do you value most about yourself or your way of living?
That I have learned to make space for both ambition and rest. I’ve worked in fast-paced jobs, but I’ve also learned that good things take time and that slowness can be strength. Having gone through burnout and early stage cancer, these were big wake up calls and my body telling me to slow down and reassess what is important in my life. It’s hard to rewind decades of habit, but I greatly value the lessons and now try to live in a way that feels considered, not just “productive”. 

3. What does wellness mean in your everyday life?
I’m someone who doesn’t love rigid routines, so for me, wellness is less about rules and more about rhythm. It’s about what feels sustainable and giving myself permission to swing back and forth, as long as there’s balance in the long run. It’s knowing when to stop, take a walk, eat something nourishing, or just be still. It’s not always easy and I definitely fall into old habits. But wellness, for me, is about getting better at listening to what I really need, and being honest with myself when I don’t.

4. Please share a recent moment when you felt connected — to yourself, someone else, or nature.
In 2024, I travelled to China for the first time to learn more about my heritage and the history of ceramics. I visited Dehua, a historic porcelain town just 90 minutes from my ancestral village, where my ancestors left China over 200 years ago. By chance, we arrived while a 400-year-old Ming Dynasty dragon kiln was being fired. The smell of pine wood, the heat of the flames, the hum of potters and kiln masters doing what they’ve done for centuries was incredible to witness. I felt deeply connected to my culture, to my craft, and to the many hands and histories that came before mine. It was this moment when I decided that I wanted my tableware to be made in this place. 

5. What are your “signature things”?
Coffee and qigong first thing in the morning. My Kindle, always before bed. Savoury over sweet. Congee with all the toppings is a comfort I never get sick of. And spending far too much time thinking about my tableware brand… even when I’m meant to be resting (I know).

Explore her tableware, Dynasty here

6. Which Shoku Iku product(s) are you leaning on right now, and how does it support your daily life?
I’ve been taking Turkey Tail for its immune-supporting and anti-cancer properties. After recovering from early stage breast cancer, I’ve become more intentional about giving my body what it needs to function well. Not because I was ever unhealthy, but because I see supplements as part of the broader care system I now give myself alongside movement, nutritious food, mental and emotional wellbeing, and rest.