金継ぎ | golden joinery
Kintsugi is an ancient Japanese art that repairs broken ceramics by not only mending the cracks, but unapologetically accentuating the beauty of the brokenness as part of the piece’s unique history and identity. The veins of gold poignantly embody mono no ware, which roughly translates to the acceptance and appreciation of the transience and impermanence of life.
The metaphor of kintsugi is perhaps more relevant today than ever, as the world reels from the collective trauma of a global pandemic and beyond. As we heal, may these works remind us to accept the transformation in ourselves and the world around us, and boldly embrace our whole selves that emerge — scars, imperfections and beauty.
nice to meet you
I’m Joanne Ke Edelman, a kintsugi artist based in Washington DC. Having received my training in Nara, Japan under a master of traditional kintsugi, I now use a combination of traditional and modern techniques in my work.
My practice is grounded in the philosophical underpinning of kintsugi and an appreciation for the beauty of imperfection by giving broken ceramics a second life. In this spirit, I enjoy working with ceramics of all types, but refrain from the practice of intentionally damaging pieces in order to create kintsugi art.
