The Japanese repair technique of kintsugi restores beauty and function to broken objects, leaving visible lines that appear as solid gold. These golden seams speak of kintsugi’s innate metaphor of fortitude, individuality, and the strength to be found in overcoming loss and hardship. Kintsugi: The Poetic Mend tells the story of this remarkable art form through its technical and practical elements, its origins, and its connections to today’s world. With a Daiwa Foundation grant, Dr Kemske interviewed maki-e artists and ceramicists in Japan, and their stories express kintsugi’s deep-rooted place in Japanese culture, giving the reader an experience of kintsugi on a personal level.

Kintsugi – The Poetic Mend is published by Herbert Press, Bloomsbury Publishing. It is available for purchase at this link. A 20% discount voucher will be provided for attendees of this event.

Date: Friday 26 February 2021

UK Time: 12:00pm-1:00pm (GMT)
Japan Time: 9:00pm-10:00pm (GMT+9)

About the contributors

Dr Bonnie Kemske holds a PhD in ceramics from the Royal College of Art, and publishes both academically and for the popular press. She approaches her writing and research through her background as a ceramic artist and a long-time student of chanoyu, the Japanese tea ceremony. Kintsugi: The Poetic Mend follows the success of The Teabowl: East and West, both published by Bloomsbury.