NW Heart Creations Japanese Kintsugi
Mended Brokenness
NW Heart Creations Japanese Kintsugi
Mended Brokenness
What is Kintsugi?
Kintsugi is an ancient Japanese art form of repairing cracked pottery with gold, knowing that the brokeness can make an object even more beautiful.
The parallels to life are deeply meaningful to me. Like most people, I have suffered brokeness in life and know the pain and hard work that goes into repairing the "cracks". However, I believe there is a beauty in what has been healed...even where scars remain.
About Me
I started making Japanese Kintsugi because I think the symbolism of this ancient art form so perfectly reflects life. Even in the midst of brokenness, beauty can be found, and what was once broken can be mended into something that is stronger than its original form. I like that this handmade art can be used to decorate a home or given as a meaningful gift.
I am pictured with my buddy, Pogo, since one of his favorite places to hang out is with me in my studio where I work.
My Work
I break each piece myself using a hammer. For me, this part of the process feels personal. My desire for each piece is that I break it, but I don't shatter it - I don't hit it so hard that I can't put it back together.
I then use epoxy mixed with gold mica powder to repair the piece. I want the mended seam to make the bond strong enough to never break again in that same spot. I then carefully add a bead of gold epoxy on top of each crack to make a uniform seam. Personally, I like to see the lines of imperfection and mending - each break is so unique. I then paint over the epoxy with gold leaf paint. The entire process happens in steps over two to three days.
I leave a purposeful hole in each piece I create which wonderfully illustrates our beautiful, mended scars.