Kintsugi
Experience the art of kintsugi in this hands-on workshop.
We are excited to announce a guest workshop led by founder of Kintsugi Oxford, Nishikawa Iku.
Iku first became attracted to the art of kintsugi while assisting Kyoto lacquerware craftsmen Shimode Muneaki and Sato Takahiko with the delivery of kintsugi workshops at the Ashmolean and the Pitt Rivers Museum in Oxford. Although kintsugi has often been considered as a professional technique achievable only in Japan, through practice and training Nishikawa found that the craft could be accessible by using recently developed materials. She has given kintsugi workshops in Japan, Italy and the UK using these new materials, and hosts lessons from her studio in Oxford, where she also carries out kintsugi repairs for private clients. She has worked with artists including Lisa Hammond, Bouke de Vries, Kat Wheeler and Claudia Clare.
What is kintsugi?
Kintsugi is the craft in which broken ceramic pieces are repaired using 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. Powdered gold is usually applied to the repaired patch or seam before the urushi has set, although less embellished repairs can be made by using urushi alone. Less precious metals are also sometimes used.
The craft dates back to at least the 16th century, and there are various engaging historical anecdotes which emphasise the value placed on items pieced back together, particularly tea-ware. The famous tea master Sen no Rikyu was renowned for his appreciation of the Unzan Katatsuki, an exquisite tea bowl, precisely because of the roughness of its repair.
The moment in time when something has been shattered is permanently captured by the painstaking labours of a craftsman in building up the layers of lacquer to repair a piece. It is this reference to the now that recalls mushin, a lack of attachment to anything, but rather being present in the moment, something constantly available to all, but particularly so when we drop a piece of china.
What to bring
As this is a beginner session, you will need to bring a piece of pottery with you that has less than three breaks, and also a cardboard or plastic box with lid, large enough to hold your item comfortably to take them home in. It can be one you have made yourself if you wish. We advise not to work on something too precious as a first attempt. We will also provide a selection of plates which Iku will demonstrate how to successfully break into two parts, which you can then repair under her guidance.
We will repair your item with epoxy glue and epoxy putty, and finally finish with traditional urushi and brass or silver (£10 in cash) if you wish.
If you do have a precious ceramic item you would like to repair, please bring it along for advice. Iku will have kintsugi kits available to buy on the day to purchase should you wish to try at home, with the knowledge gained in the workshop. Please email kintsugioxford.iku@gmail.com in advance if you are interested in hearing more about them, and potentially buying one.
These workshops are open to adults from 16+.