The Art of Kintsugi: Hope for Humans
Kintsugi is a traditional Japanese art form that involves repairing broken pottery with lacquer mixed with gold, silver, or platinum powder. The term "kintsugi" literally means "golden joinery" in Japanese.
The philosophy behind kintsugi is that the breakage and repair of an object are an important part of its history and should be celebrated rather than hidden. By mending the broken pieces with precious metals, the object becomes more valuable and beautiful than it was before. It is stronger and of the highest value.
Kintsugi dates back to the 15th century when Japanese tea masters started using it to repair their tea bowls. The practice has since spread to other areas of Japanese culture and has become a popular art form around the world.
To create a kintsugi piece, the broken pottery is first cleaned and reassembled with a special glue made from natural lacquer. Then, the artist applies gold, silver, or platinum powder to the cracks, creating a striking contrast between the mended areas and the original pottery.
Kintsugi is not only a beautiful art form but also a philosophy that encourages us to embrace imperfection and find beauty in the brokenness. It teaches us that our scars and flaws are a part of who we are and should be celebrated rather than hidden.
