Do you have a broken dish that you just cannot throw away?
Then you might want to check about ‘kintsugi’.
KINTSUGI
Kintsugi
Kintsugi/Kintsukuroi is a traditional Japanese method of mending broken objects, known as gold jointing or gold repairing.
Traditionally, a material called ‘urushi’ is used in Kintsugi.
In our workshop, we will follow the concept of a 15th century Japanese repairing technique while combining modern materials together with traditional ‘urushi’.
Don’t worry if you are not crafty.
‘Kintsugi’ is not about how ‘perfect’ it has been restored.
It is more about emphasizing the cracks and seeing something different, even something completely new from the bit of history which has been added.
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It is often said that the importance of Kintsugi is not in it’s appearance. It’s beauty and value exists within the personel. This spirit of finding the beauty in old or broken things, leads to the spirit of ‘Wabi Sabi’ philosophy.
New Kintsugi
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-Using alternative materials
Normally traditional ‘kintsugi’ can take months to complete a piece, this new ‘kintsugi’ allows you to experience the traditional technique in one afternoon or even morning with astonishing result.
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Kanshitsu Kintsugi
-combination of modern
materials and urushi
Kanshitsu kintsugi will use modern alternative material to combine the broken pieces and then finish with urushi.
What is Urushi?
Urishi is a sap from the urushi( poison oak) tree.
To collect the sap, we will must wait for approximately 15 years for the tree to grow to preferable size, and the sap can be collect only once from that tree. The amount of the sap can be collected from one tree is 200g.
Then, the sap gets refined.
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※Please note that not some but most of the people may react to Urushi lacquer.
If you would like to first feel the Kintsugi ambience, then it is maybe good idea to start with alternative Kintsugi, the new kintsugi.
※The crockery with Kintsugi is not suitable for dishwasher, microwave oven, oven and cleaning with steel brushes.
※In the workshop, we will be using epoxy glue to joint the pieces.
※Please bring or come with workable clothes.
※The Kintsugi parts may not dry completely during the workshop hours. Please bring a box or any container to carry the crockery that you would like to work on.
WHAT IS WABI SABI
"Sabi" is the word which expresses the beauty of it's appearance.
Most of the things that exists will eventually get old, decay or brake, even if it were able to hold it's form, the design also can get out of date through time. We often call it deterioration, however, in the world of "sabi", the change of it's appearance by age is considered a unique beauty which only can be realized through the continuity of time.
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"Wabi" is the word which explains the positive attitude of the mind which accepts the aged and sometime broken things. In short, "wabi" is the mind which make is possible to understand and appreciate the beauty of "sabi'.
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The sense of Japanese beauty cannot be explained just by the word "wabi sabi".
There are other words, such as "suki", "yatsushi", "basara" or "keren". These are also important words when it comes to understanding of the unique Japanese beauty and art.
ABOUT
ME
・Spent several years of childhood in United States and United Kingdom.
・ After graduating university in Japan, moved to New York and took several courses at SVA.
・ Returning to Japan, worked as an organizer for workshops and events, also teached arts and crafts for children.
Since following after my mother wondering around antique markets, I realized myself enjoying, learning and searching antiques(more like juntiques, according to my mother).
From victorian 9 karat gold ring to cracked crockery, there are unique histories behind every single piece, just like us.
I am looking forward to put together the fragments of old memories, which I have had and will be having the pleasure to lay my hands on, using traditional Japanese Kintsugi technique.