Kintsugi - The Art Within Imperfection
Story by Natalia Poma. Photos by Natalia Poma and Nicolas Galvis
Edited by Jack Sloan
Kintsugi is an art that celebrates an object's history, fractures, and imperfections by restoring them and highlighting its flaws as the primary source of their beauty.
On my second day in Tokyo, my family and I joined a kintsugi workshop. As we entered the dimly lit room, I was struck by the beauty of Japanese and Western glassware, tableware, and lacquerware, its intricate and imperfect lure. We were welcomed by kintsugi master Hiro Kiyokawa, a man with 50 years of experience restoring "lacquer art," a technique that's been around since the Edo period (1603-1868).
The sensei’s message was centered on the notion that restoration is the beginning of a new story and broken vessels are the seeds of a new landscape. Cracks and chips aren't concealed —they are essential to the new creation. Master Kiyokawa explained that the art of kintsugi is deeply rooted in the Japanese philosophy of wabi-sabi, which embraces and finds beauty in imperfection and impermanence. Hence, kintsugi is about restoring what was once broken and old and creating a new story, a new beginning.
Next, we discussed the technique of kintsugi, a process that consists of repairing ceramics with a special adhesive lacquer. The first step in acquiring lacquer is harvesting the sap collected from the Urushi tree, grown and cared for over ten years. Lacquer masters slice minor cuts in the tree allowing the sap to trickle out; only thirty trained Urushi professionals remain in Japan. After removing the impurities and letting the sap settle, the lacquer masters age it in a cool, dark environment for several years. This patience is critical to obtaining the perfect consistency for application.
After carefully applying the wet lacquer, it is dusted with powdered gold, silver, or platinum pigments. Gold pigment is commonly used; however, other metals can be applied depending on the artisans' desired effect. The object is left to dry in a humid environment for several weeks until the lacquer is fully hardened. Lastly, the artisans polish any roughness and enhance the shine of the metallic powder, bringing the cycle to the finish.
As I finished reviewing the art technique, the master handed me a “broken” piece of pottery to rewrite its story. The process required diligence and patience, and as I followed the instructions, every stroke of the brush felt reflective and meditative. Each flaw and fracture became a personal part of my design.
My final product resembled an old, yet cherished, artifact. The pottery became a tangible representation of resilience and transformation, a memento of finding new strength and beauty in imperfection.
The art of Kintsugi
The Imperial Building Complex in Tokyo, Japan. Photo by Nicolas Galvis
Learning the ways of Kintsugi firsthand at the workshop in Tokyo. Photo by Natalia Poma