DISCOVER JAPANESE AESTHETICS WITH MODERN KINTSUGI

Learn about the method of pottery mending that found its way into Japanese tea ceremony as well as the hearts of people around the world.

Kintsugi is the Japanese technique of repairing broken pottery using urushi lacquer that is either mixed with or dusted with gold powder. In Japan, the strengthening property of urushi has long been realized and utilized for various purposes, and there is evidence that the material was used thousands of years ago in the ancient Jomon period.

The beginnings of the kintsugi art form are thought to have originated around the Azuchi-Momoyama period (the latter 1500s), a time when the Japanese tea ceremony flourished as it took shape under the influential teachings of Sen no Rikyu. A fundamental aesthetic incorporated into tea ceremony was wabi-sabi, or the admiration of imperfections, and tea bowls were often admired for their earthen or asymmetrical qualities. Bowls that cracked or broke were too valuable to throw away, so the kintsugi process of repairing them with urushi and gold powder not only gave the pottery a new life, but was seen as adding originality and an artistic value.

“Methods of repair typically aim to avoid drawing attention to the broken part, however the process of deliberately highlighting the crack as something to be enjoyed was incorporated into and popularized by Japanese tea culture,” explained modern kintsugi artist, Tomomi Kamoshita.

Today, the kintsugi technique has gain popularity overseas for many reasons - one being its visual appeal. The striking gold patterns created by the technique have been compared to a kimono’s obijime sash that adds a complimentary splash of color and quite literally ties the ensemble together. For some, the underlying message of growing stronger and more beautiful has even served as a source of emotional healing and a symbolic way to overcome difficult experiences.

About the Experience

We have prepared the special opportunity to test your creativity and create your own one-of-a-kind work of modern kintsugi with the help of an internationally acclaimed ceramic/kintsugi artist whose works have been exhibited throughout Japan as well as in New York and Paris.

Traditional kintsugi involves the utilization of urushi lacquer, a substance which is highly poisonous to the touch, and requires numerous processes that can take a few months to complete.

However, for this experience the artisan will introduce you to a simplified version of modern kintsugi, where you will be able to create your original chopstick rest. The process will utilize a substitute adhesive that dries much faster and doesn’t result in adverse skin reactions when touched. To finish your work, you will apply a brass powder mixture that will complete your work.

※ An online meet-up experience with the artisan can be arranged upon request.

Experience includes:Private Kintsugi experience, your own kintsugi artwork
Duration:2 hours (can be adjusted upon request)
Location:Tokyo (in your hotel room or another venue)
Price:Please contact us to inquire about pricing
Max #  of people:up to 8

Recommended for people who…

● would like to discover more about Japanese aesthetics and artwork
● wish to learn about kintsugi directly from a master of the art
● enjoy working with their fingers and are interested in fine, detail-oriented crafts