Pantechnicon is excitingly launching a month-long celebration of the Japanese art of Kintsugi this October.
Collaborating with a number of talented artists from across the UK and different regions of Japan, the Kintsugi method and philosophy will be presented through displays of traditional and contemporary Kintsugi art collections and weekend workshops that will run throughout the 6 floors at Pantechnicon, in Belgravia.
But what actually is Kintsugi?
Kintsugi has been present in Japanese culture for over 400 years and is the art of repairing broken ceramic ware, traditionally from tea ceremonies in Japan. As a philosophy, it means much more than fixing a broken object; it teaches us that there is no wound that cannot be healed and celebrates imperfection. It is said that when an object is repaired with Kintsugi, it is then more beautiful because of the damage it experienced. Kintsugi is a sustainable art form that allows us to treasure unique pieces for generations to come.
From 1 October 2022, Pantechnicon will display a wide collection of traditional and contemporary Kintsugi artworks – and hold a series of weekend workshops. Pantechnicon has been collecting broken plates from its restaurants over the past 8 months and by using traditional lacquer and precious metal powder to join the ceramic pieces together guests will be able to create their very own original Kintsugi art.
If you didn’t know, this rather special building has a focus on creativity and craftsmanship, where six floors are divided into eight spaces inspired by the Nordics & Japan. Artists announced to be collaborating with Pantechnicon for its programme of Kintsugi workshops include:
KINTSUGI LABO JAPAN – 1st & 2nd October
Launched in 2020 with the aim of creating sustainable art, Kintsugi Labo does not intentionally break the ceramics, rather they collect broken pieces from kilns in Kyoto, Arita and Shiga, that would otherwise be discarded. Visiting the UK for the first time, master lacquer craftsman, Nobuyasu Suginaka, will lead ‘maki-e’ workshops where guests will make their own Japanese lacquerware coaster set or trinket tray.
90 minute Coaster Set Workshop: 1st October 10am – 11.30am / 2pm – 3.30pm / 4.30pm – 6pm (Book here)
90 minute Trinket Tray Workshop: 2nd October 10am – 11.30am / 2pm – 3.30pm / 4.30pm – 6pm (Book here)
IKU NISHIKAWA - 8th & 9th October
Founder of Kintsugi Oxford, Iku Nishikawa Iku was born and raised in Kochi, Japan. She first became attracted to the art of kintsugi while assisting Kyoto lacquerware craftsmen Muneaki Shimoda and Takahiko Sato with the delivery of kintsugi workshops at the Ashmolean Museum and the Pitt Rivers Museum in Oxford. She is dedicated to making the craft of kintsugi accessible to those outside Japan.
Iku will be joined by Founder & Creative Director of Milamore Jewellery, George Inaki Root, to introduce Kintsugi-inspired jewellery and lead Kintsugi workshops.
90 minute Kintsugi Workshop: 8th October 1.30pm – 3pm / 4pm – 5.30pm
90 minute Kintsugi Workshop: 9th October 1.30pm – 3pm / 4pm – 5.30pm
TOMOMI KAMOSHITA – 22nd & 23rd October
Born in Tokyo, Tomomi uses a technique called yobitsugi (meaning ‘calling together’) to repair damaged ceramics by using pieces from foreign objects, like patchwork. Her works include a dish with coloured glass and other ceramic fragments spliced onto an antique plate and a chopstick rest or ornament made of only ceramic, glass, and sea glass fragments.
Visiting the UK to present her work for the first time, Tomomi will host 2 Yobitsugi workshops using ceramics and sea glass.
90-minute Yobitsugii Workshop: 22nd October 10 am – 12 pm
90-minute Kintsugi Workshop: 23rd October 10 am – 12 pm
Kintsugi Month at Pantechnicon runs from 1st October to 30th October 2022. It is free to explore the artworks on display throughout the building.
To book workshops visit pantechnicon.com/experience
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All imagery courtesy of Pantechnicon.