The Japanese Art of Kintsugi inspired Paintings

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Hi,

I was in a creative rut (which I am always in most of the time) before I started doing this painting. I was out of ideas and inspiration until I stumbled upon the art of Kintsugi which inspired me to do this piece.

Kintsugi/ Kintsukuroi in its simplest sense is the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with gold. Such a powerful and beautiful concept!

The purpose of this art is to enhance the broken pottery and the unique cracks formed when the pottery is broken. Kintsugi teaches us that broken objects can be made more alluring than its pristine state. I find the concept of Kintsugi awe-inspiring at its very core essence. It has made me think how this amazing concept can be applicable to everyday life, even to our own being.

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Each of us, as a person has our own unique flaws and cracks. Our own imperfections that make us, US. Humans, at our very core, are complicated beings. Life at its hardest breaks us in ways that may leave us irreparable and damaged. It may not be up to us to choose our circumstances but we can choose how to deal with the damages that life leaves us with. Do we analyze it, understand it and finally embrace it? Or do we let it break us without even trying to repair it?

In kintsugi, there are several steps that precede the application of gold. Before gold is laid down, every breaks and crack are analyzed. After the broken pieces are held together with lacquer, the pottery is polished and sanded down until the cracks are no longer felt. It is after this step, the gold is added to the cracks which add value and beauty to the broken utensil. Kintsugi does not have written down rules that need to be followed while repairing. The artist is free to choose their tools and medium.

The concept is symbolic. When life breaks us, learn to embrace the cracks. Analyze it, understand it and polish it down with YOUR OWN TOOLS until it can no longer hurt you and it can no longer be felt. Then, like the Japanese art of kintsugi, add the gold to your flaws- embrace it and understand that these flaws add value to your being. They become your “golden scars”.