Porcelain's inherent fragility has long captivated artists, who transform this vulnerability into profound artistic statements. Contemporary sculptors deliberately emphasize the material's delicate nature through cracks, thin-walled constructions, or precarious balances, creating works that whisper rather than shout. Some artists employ hairline fractures as visual metaphors for human fragility, while others compose installations of shattered fragments to represent rebirth from brokenness.

The Japanese concept of wabi-sabi finds perfect expression in porcelain sculptures, where imperfections become the artwork's soul. Artists like Edmund de Waal create minimalist installations where the slightest vibration could topple carefully arranged pieces, making viewers acutely aware of their own physical presence. Others use porcelain's translucent quality to create ghostly, ephemeral figures that seem to dissolve before the viewer's eyes.

Modern ceramicists often contrast porcelain's delicate appearance with unexpected durability, challenging perceptions. Some incorporate gold-filled cracks (kintsugi-inspired) to celebrate rather than disguise damage, while others create impossibly thin porcelain "skins" stretched over armatures. This interplay between strength and vulnerability mirrors human experiences, making porcelain an ideal medium for exploring themes of resilience, temporality, and the beauty of impermanence in contemporary sculpture.