‘Nothing is ever truly broken’ is the philosophy behind Kintsugi, the ancient Japanese art of repairing broken pottery using shimmering veins of lacquer mixed with gold, silver or other pigments. And at the start of the bleakest part of the year, that’s a phrase worth remembering.
Far from trying to hide damage, Kintsugi emphasizes breaks and cracks as an important and valuable part of the object’s history.
If that gets you going – hell, we’re in – why not attend a two-and-a-half-hour workshop this month at Free Space Gallery with artist Michael Crossan?
He’ll teach you to the fundamentals of this meditative art form, and using photographs and ceramics, participants will come away with their own unique Kintsugi objet, made “stronger and more beautiful”, he says, through its cracks and flaws. It’s a tangible reminder of “resilience, continuity, and transformation”.
Better still, no prior experience is required, with materials included in the cost. Forget the gym, this sounds 100% like our kind of restorative New Year activity.
