Life Reconciliation Office ｜ 生活和解办公室
Founded in 2023 in Beijing by Shitou and Guozi, Life Reconciliation Office is a creative practice rooted in everyday life and emotional resonance. Both idealists with a deep affection for everyday life, the duo brings a romantic sensibility to their ceramic work - an extension of their long-standing exploration since 2020.
Each piece is a quiet reflection of time, warmth, and intention. Through subtle glazes and gentle forms, their objects invite touch, companionship, and small rituals of comfort.
This collection features the Caramel Series, a collection known for its warm glaze tones and soft silhouettes - created to add sweetness to daily life.
This collection will be available on September 13 at 2 PM PDT. We invite you to explore the gallery and enjoy the interview below.
Can you share how Life Reconciliation Office came into being? What was the starting point for your journey?
After spending many years in the field of product design, I encountered a difficult period in both my personal and professional life. Those years were filled with challenges and emotional lows. While searching for a way forward, I began creating simple handmade items for myself. I named this new project Life Reconciliation Office [生活和解办公室], as a wish to one day make peace with life through making.
How did your connection to ceramics begin? When did you realize this was something you truly loved?
Our journey took us through Chaozhou, Lincang, and Dehua - regions rich in ceramic heritage. During these travels, we encountered the world of handmade pottery again and again. The closeness between hand, material, and form spoke to us in its quiet sincerity. Gradually, we began to try it ourselves. With each piece we completed, our bond with the craft deepened, like a slow and steady conversation unfolding between maker and clay.
How did your lifestyle and inner world shift after committing to ceramics?
In the beginning, I encountered many challenges, including struggles with my health. During the winter of 2022, a heavy snow fell in the northern suburbs of Beijing for three days and nights. At the time, I was quietly working in a small, cold courtyard, enduring illness while continuing to push forward.
It was through this period of persistence that I gradually broke free from several years of difficulty. Ceramics became a companion in that process, guiding me into a more balanced and regenerative rhythm of making. That experience allowed me to rebuild confidence in myself and in my work, leading to more focused, consistent, and fulfilling creation.
Tell us about the series featured in this collection. What’s the inspiration and process behind it?
This collection is part of our “Caramel” series, named after the soft, warm tones of its glaze. We’ve always believed that a touch of sweetness can add joy to everyday life. With gentle, rounded silhouettes and a comforting color palette, each piece is meant to quietly brighten a space and uplift its user.
The caramel glaze is delicate and highly responsive to temperature, often requiring multiple firings to reach the ideal texture and hue. We’ve remained committed to maintaining a high standard throughout the process, knowing that the satisfaction of the final piece comes not just from how it looks, but from how it makes someone feel when they hold it.
We heard you have moved cities and studios. Can you tell us about your new space and environment?
This fall, we are leaving Beijing and returning to our hometown. After years of moving between rented spaces, we are finally settling down. Like before, we will live and work in a quiet rural courtyard, but this time it is a place of our own. Having that sense of permanence gives us the freedom to shape the space in ways that reflect the life we want to build.
When we designed the new studio, we were not aiming for perfect finishes. Instead, we focused on creating a peaceful atmosphere. We kept the original wooden beams and chose a soft palette of yellow and gray for the walls to invite warmth and calm. In the future, we hope to host small gatherings here. More than just a studio, this space is an expression of the values behind Life Reconciliation Office - a space to make, share, and feel at ease.
What does a typical day look like for you? What are the most challenging and most rewarding parts of the creative process?
We usually focus on production during the day and spend the evenings exploring creative ideas. Ever since leaving the corporate world, our routine has become simpler and more peaceful.
The most challenging and rewarding moment often comes at the same time: opening the kiln after trying something new. There is always uncertainty, but also a deep sense of excitement. Regardless of the outcome, the process itself brings energy and joy. It is a reminder that creativity is full of possibility.
What do you believe handmade objects mean to our lives today? What value do they hold?
Just as the name Life Reconciliation Office suggests, life can be heavy and repetitive, and our emotions need gentle release. Handmade objects, in this sense, are more than objects for daily use - they are like small keys or quiet invitations.
Through thoughtful design and the subtle marks left by the hands that shape them, each piece carries a bit of hope. It reflects our wishes, no matter how small, and holds space for emotional resonance in the quiet moments of everyday life.
With each use, they offer a spark of comfort, a moment of connection, and perhaps a soft sense of happiness. In these subtle gestures, we find a form of reconciliation with life - patient, quiet, and kind.
Feel free to DM us on Instagram or WeChat if you have any questions.
If you’d like to book an appointment to view these beautiful pieces in Downtown LA, just drop us a message.
Instagram: @places.objects
WeChat: places_objects
Email: places.objects@gmail.com