The art of kintsugi

In a consumerist society, anything that's broken heads for the garbage bin without a second thought. However, it is possible to repair objects, and the Internet has brought the practice back into fashion. Excellent news for reducing our ecological footprint and giving a second life to our surroundings. The Japanese art of kintsugi is one that has caught the imagination of Internet users in recent years.

Developed, according to legend, in 15th-century Japan, the technique is used to restore broken ceramic tableware. Shattered plates, bowls or cups are glued together and the cracks are decorated with colored lines in gold, silver or red. A time-consuming method, but one which has the advantage of using elements which, unlike petrochemical glues, can be reused in food consumption once dry. To achieve this, as the ceramist briefly explains, you need to go through a number of time-consuming stages. Another important tool is ki-urushi lacquer, harvested from an endemic Chinese tree also found in Japan. It promotes the cohesion and durability of the repair.

On the other hand, this art form, rediscovered by the Internet, leads to all sorts of abuses. Some offer solutions in less than an hour, which doesn't make sense according to the specialist. Generally speaking, at least 6 hours are needed, and the whole process takes several days. Often, these people will suggest the use of products that prevent ceramic crockery from being reused in food. This goes against the principles of kintsugi. We must also be careful: although this art form does represent resilience, there's no evidence that it was developed with this in mind.

Running time: 16min54