Kintsugi - the traditional Japanese art of flaunting flaws

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

The Japanese are special and very interesting people. They managed to put philosophy even in broken cups. The Japanese appreciate old things and are in no hurry to throw them away in pursuit of new, more modern ones. Their art of kintsugi is not just the restoration of old broken dishes, it is much more. It teaches us to relate correctly not only to things, but also to the troubles that accompany us in everyday life. So what kind of art is it - kintsugi?

The beauty of antiques versus gloss and consumer goods

We live in an age of consumption, when broken or broken things are thrown away without much regret. After all, it costs nothing to go and buy another one instead. But at the same time, gradually we have fewer and fewer things that are truly valuable, with which many fond memories are associated. Gradually they are being replaced by easily replaceable, but completely soulless consumer goods.

With the Japanese, everything is different. They value antiques just for their "wear and tear" and for the warmth they keep. They feel the soul of things and believe that cracks and damage do not spoil them at all. On the contrary, skilfully corrected antiques become even more beautiful and valuable. But, in fairness, it should be noted that there are connoisseurs of old things not only in Japan, but also in our country. You can remember, for example, Barash with his old umbrella …

Kintsugi technique

In Japan, broken ceramics are not thrown away, as we would have done, but are often restored with a special glue made from urushi, the thick and viscous sap of lacquer wood. This glue, mixed with powdered gold or silver, is used to fill and seal the cracks. In this case, broken objects not only acquire a second life, but their beauty becomes completely unique.

This technique of ceramic restoration is called Kintsugi or Art "". At the same time, the cracks are not at all trying to hide or somehow mask. On the contrary, sparkling with gold, they appear in all their glory. Often, glued dishes turn into a real work of art, and their price also increases.

And it is really wonderful to be able to transform a flaw, a flaw, into the beauty that arises when the destroyed is combined. The choice of expensive materials (gold, silver, platinum) in this case is quite justified - it emphasizes the high value of the product.

The kintsugi technique appeared at the end of the 15th century. According to legend, one of the Japanese rulers, shogun Ashikaga Yoshimasa, who adored tea ceremonies, broke his beautiful teacup. She was sent for restoration to China, where the bowl was restored as best they could, fastening the fragments with metal staples. However, the ruler did not like this at all.

Then he turned to local craftsmen, who then came up with a new method of gluing, later called kintsugi - "the art of the golden seam", "gold patch".

"The philosophy of golden cracks" or how to turn cracks into "highlights"

We live in a world in which beauty, youth and success are valued and exalted. But in pursuit of these ideals, many will face failure and bitterness of disappointment. Dreams are shattered when faced with the reality of life. Many try to hide their mistakes, failures and failures.

And in the art of kintsugi, a completely different wisdom is laid, which, although based on ceramic bowls, is quite applicable to our life. And this wisdom consists in accepting one's own shortcomings and failures, because there is still no escape from them. We must learn not to hide them, but to accept them as they are, and to rethink them correctly. And, having thrown off the lacquered impeccable ideal from the pedestal, we can plant our own life on it and try to look at it from a different angle. And if you choose the right angle, perhaps our own life, although far from ideal, will seem to us very worthy and interesting. This is what the Japanese say …

Many admitted that it was failures and falls that hardened them, made them stronger and later helped change their lives for the better - they were able to achieve success or simply became happy people.

Max Beerbohm, English writer and cartoonist (1872-1956).

Truman Capote, American writer (1924-1984)

Coco Chanel, French fashion designer (1883-1971)

A modern interpretation of ancient Japanese art

Kintsugi is also of interest to contemporary European designers. At the Maison & Objet exhibition, held in Paris, the Italian designer Marcantonio presented a set of "broken" dishes, made using old Japanese techniques. However, at the same time, he somewhat revived the serious Japanese approach, introducing elements of his own imagination into it. The pieces of his service are assembled by combining shards of crockery of a wide variety of styles. It turned out quite interesting.

And one more purely Japanese problem - Why do the Japanese polish balls of mud, and how do they do it.