Brokenness and Repair

Kintsugi is the craft in which chipped, cracked or broken ceramic pieces are repaired using a combination of urushi (lacquer) and rice glue. This process inadvertently results in a decoration, the form of which is dictated by the breakage the piece has suffered. This craft has inspired people around the world to think differently about the possibilities of care and repair, not make brokenness invisible, but to lift it to a state of aesthetic beauty.
Internationally renowned kintsugi expert Nishikawa Iku will demonstrate the techniques used in this craft, explaining its roots in Japanese culture and its variations as it has evolved over the centuries.

After a break, Iku will be joined by a panel who will share how kintsugi has shaped their thinking in philosophy, anthropology and art, providing clues on how all of us might be able to develop our sensitivity to the fragility of the world and our capacity to transform vulnerability into beauty. There will also be time for Q&A.

The talk is public and free. It is co-sponsored by the Europe-Japan Research Centre and the Healthy Ageing & Care Research Network and funded through the generosity of the Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation.
The room is hearing aid looped. Please contact the organisers if you have any accessibility questions or needs.