My lacquerwork began with a reishi mushroom I picked for my mother in kindergarten. It stayed in my home for over a decade as a symbol of memory, and I wanted to preserve it in a meaningful, lasting way. Because my family is close to tea culture, I imagined the mushroom as a tea companion, “da-woo (茶友),” rather than just decoration. To protect its natural form while giving it durability, I used traditional lacquer for the first time, navigating a process of trial and error and turning a personal memory into a functional object. This project shows my instinct to preserve what I value while honoring its original character.