VISIBLE MENDING
THE VALUE OF TRANSFORMATIVE REPAIR

I love repairing things.

And not just because I accidentally break things all the time. Wasting stuff makes me feel terrible. On top of that, you just can’t beat that victorious feeling of finding a (new) purpose for something that would have otherwise been binned. I’m pretty sure most of my work is fuelled by fulfilling that purpose.

I also tend to get quite attached to objects and can feel their value to me increasing the longer I’ve used them. It’s like that famous Henry Thoreau quote, “The value of anything is the amount of life you pay for it.” Repairing an object means getting to know it intimately, investing even more time and effort just to keep it around longer. I believe mending strengthens the bond I feel with an object, and increases its value to me.

Visible signs of repair serve as a reminder of this bond and its added value - the way scars are proof of what you’ve survived. Conventional forms of repair are most concerned with restoring function and a ‘like-new’ appearance: using transparent glue and invisible techniques to erase any traces of breakage. From my perspective, this type of repair conveys the idea that perfection is paramount, and consequently, that anything other than perfection is less valuable.

I firmly believe the opposite is true: imperfection is valuable in itself. An object that has been broken, will never be the same again – because it becomes something new altogether. This is where the term ‘transformative repair’ comes in. Transformative repair says “I’m still here, despite everything.”

It tells a story. A handle glued back on a coffee cup alludes to a reason not to throw it away. Contrasting stitches on a well-loved jumper celebrate the person that lives in it: late night burn holes, snagged stitches from impromptu cat cuddles, a worn away elbow placed firmly on a desk.

In ceramics, China and Japan particularly have a rich history of visible repairs: from metal staples often seen in Chinese wares to the gold lines of Japanese kintsugi.

Following the principle of wabi-sabi (‘the beauty of imperfection’), kintsugi celebrates cracks and flaws as expressions of a dynamic life, drawing attention to the whole of an object’s history. Mending a broken piece is done with the same level of care and attention as went into its creation, adding additional value by using real gold – a great example of transformative repair.

Transformative repair is a recurring theme in my own work as well. Kintsugi helps me to explore the deeper meaning of brokenness, mending and healing. It is also a means of sustainability, as it means I can give vintage or fired pieces that would otherwise be discarded a new life.

I have written more about the philosophy and process of kintsugi, and my thoughts on its appropriation by people like me. I don’t take on kintsugi repairs for others, and would refer anyone interested in the below list of genuine craftspeople who do.

INDEX OF QUALIFIED CRAFTSPEOPLE

  • London-based ZIYO offers a traditional kintsugi repair service.

  • London-based Mizuyo Yamashita teaches traditional kintsugi techniques in person and online, and takes in broken ceramics for repair as well.

  • French fine art restorer Myriam Greff uses a variety of traditional techniques to repair your broken ceramics.

  • Renowned kintsugi master Yutaka Ohtaki (who works with Guy Keulemans on Object Therapy) runs the 100-year old Urushi Ohtaki store in Murakami. The shop front alone is worth a look, but Ohtaki also offers repairs and workshops.

MORE INFORMATION