Kintsugi : The Poetic Mend by Bonnie Kemske

Kintsugi : The Poetic Mend by Bonnie Kemske

Hardback. 176 pages, Colour photographs.

Approximate measurements: 23cm x 29.5cm x 1.8cm

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Kintsugi is the art of embracing imperfection.

In Western cultures, the aim of repair has been to make the broken item 'as good as new'.

Kintsugi on the other hand, is a Japanese art that leaves an obvious repair - one that may appear fragile, but which actually makes the restored ceramic piece stronger, more beautiful, and more valuable than before. Leaving clear, bold, visible lines with the appearance of solid gold, it never hides the story of the object's damage.

Kintsugi traces memory, bringing together the moment of destruction and the gold seams of repair through finely-honed skills and painstaking, time-consuming labour in the creation of a new pot from the old.

Bonnie Kemske explores kintsugi's metaphorical power as well as exploring the technical and practical aspects of the art, meeting with artists and ceramists in Japan and the US to discuss their personal connection to this intricate technique. With the inclusion of diary entries, personal stories, and in-depth exploration of its origin and symbolism, this book shows kintsugi's metaphoric strength as well as its striking aesthetic, making it a unique and powerful art form that can touch our lives.