Shanghai is cracking under its own weight. Dozens of quickly-built new skyscrapers have blistered sidewalks and parks with fault lines, sinking the city an average 1.5 centimeters each year. The problem is so severe that city officials have axed many proposed skyscrapers, hoping to prevent additional damage. When seen individually, the cracks are most likely ignored by the average pedestrian, but when viewed together, they reveal a city that is struggling to cope with the speed of its own growth.
City officials repave and patch Shangai’s cracks with asphalt. Though these cracks are haphazardly covered, East Asia has a deep, rich history when it comes to cracks, especially in the arts, where they are valued as an opportunity for creativity.
In fifteenth century Japan, a shogun damaged a precious Chinese bowl, causing cracks to splinter across the small vessel. Fearful of the cracks growing, the shogun took the bowl to a craftsman and asked him to repair it in such a way that it would become more valuable than before. The craftsman filled the cracks with lacquer resin sprinkled with powdered gold. Called kintsugi, “golden joinery” in English translation, the technique became highly desired, and it wasn’t long before cracked and repaired pottery was more valuable than pristine vessels.
Kintsugi continues to fascinate and inspire. “Because the repairs are done with such immaculate craft, and in precious metal, it’s hard to read them as a record of violence and damage,” wrote Blake Gopnik, in his 2009 review of the exhibit “Golden Seams: The Japanese Art of Mending Ceramics,” held at the Smithsonian’s Freer Gallery. Next to a piece of pottery’s earthen-colored clay, the kintsugi gold cuts through, providing a sporadic action that arrests the eyes. Gopnik describes it as “a tiny moment of free jazz played during a fugue by Bach.” He goes on to report that Japanese collectors were so kintsugi-obsessed that they were often accused of intentionally breaking their pottery just to have it repaired.
In a modernized twist on this tradition, designer Lotte Dekker encourages people to break pottery in her workshops. Dekker has created her own kintsugi-style repair kits containing Bison glue and an inexpensive gold powder (see video below). These kits may not be the real deal, but they encourage artists and non-artists alike to explore the art of repair. Dekker’s technique promotes the creation of new forms, where broken shards of pottery come together to form a new, almost animated shape, similar yet distant from the intact original.
More than just a means of repair, kintsugi promotes a hopeful philosophy; unexpected damage can be an opportunity. For Shanghai, the sidewalk cracks have slowed the rate of construction, leading officials to carefully vet new building proposals. Perhaps now, Shanghai will take a moment to reflect upon the bustling city it’s become. Shanghai may be struggling to cope with the speed of its own growth, but the breaks, bumps and scratches may have the potential to turn into something beautiful and unexpected.
Chappell Ellison is a designer, writer and design writer. She currently lives in Brooklyn, New York where she serves as a contributor for The Etsy Blog and design columnist for GOOD.
3 Featured Comments
Sign in to add your ownStephanie from DottiesPhD says: Featured
I really admire how something once broken can take on new and added value, adding depth to an item's past. Fascinating article.
1 year ago
Erin says: Featured
Makes me think of my own city, Christchurch. With loads of cracks, empty spaces and a city devasted from natural disaster, we are also a city full of hope, optimism, and bright ideas on how to fill these spaces with beauty. We already have a non-profit organization called Gap Filler taking the initiative to fill empty lots with life and love while the city plans for the future. It's lovely to see this sort of thing in the minute detail of china repair. Repairing and rebuilding are acts of love and craftsmanship. It's nice to see them on all scales.
1 year ago
Adrienne Lojeck from WingsOfClay says: Featured
Interesting, and it also reminds me of another Japanese art form that embraces the "mistake" and the "imperfection" as fertile ground for creativity: the dance form BUTOH. I am currently studying Butoh, and it is a wonderful, challenging Japanese post-modern dance form that involves tuning in to your body's twitches, pains, weaknesses, and imperfections, and translating that into dance. Like the shattered pottery shown above, Butoh draws the viewer in to the strange, alluring beauty of fragile imperfection.
1 year ago
111 comments
Sign in to add your ownLiz Worthy from lizworthy says:
This reminds me a little of "seed bombing" where sidewalk cracks become the home of mini-botanical art installations. I wonder if any of this is happening in Shanghai's sidewalks? http://laughingsquid.com/holes-of-happiness-the-guerrilla-pothole-gardens-of-east-london/
1 year ago
Sylvie Liv from SylvieLiv says:
That is so very neat! Other people's creative thinking is so inspiring, especially when they work with something that would have been useless otherwise! Thank you for sharing this!
1 year ago
Kirsti Joy from KaiceJoy says:
Struck by the beauty of turning something broken(pottery) and seemingly useless into something priceless! Thanks for the post!!
1 year ago
Kelly from KikuPaper says:
My grandmother had a blue and vase with a "faceted" look to it. An appraiser told us the pattern was known as broken ice which makes sense. - Wonder if this broken ice pattern evolved from this kintsugi technique.
1 year ago
maggiesraggedyinn from maggiesraggedyinn says:
Very interesting article.... these blogs spark the imagination and now I am off to find more information on this... thanks!
1 year ago
Semira from freesoul says:
Awesome, great way to reuse!
1 year ago
Marie Allen from misspoppys1 says:
How interesting! what a great idea, esp like the idea that the unexpected throws up new opportunities - thats so true!
1 year ago
Jacquelin from PoshAvenue says:
innovative yet ancient
1 year ago
Stephanie from DottiesPhD says: Featured
I really admire how something once broken can take on new and added value, adding depth to an item's past. Fascinating article.
1 year ago
Fauzia from mehndiart09 says:
Very nice reminder to hear ---- cracks lead to an opportunity!!! Good message to hear on a Monday!
1 year ago
iammie from iammie says:
Cool idea!
1 year ago
Natalia from KMalinkaVintage says:
Great idea!
1 year ago
Levi Emerson from gypsumrose says:
ohh i love this! very interesting :)
1 year ago
EphemeraAndMore from EphemeraAndMore says:
Very interesting and inspirational story!
1 year ago
Sharon Moores from slathered says:
So interesting! And here I've been smashing my broken plates into even smaller bits and making jewelry out of it. How very backward-thinking of me.
1 year ago
DecadesOfVintage from DecadesOfVintage says:
a great story thanks
1 year ago
Karen Brown says:
That video is the cutest thing ever! ! And the idea of a repaired object having greater value than the original -- that's a beautiful lesson. What a great story. Thanks for this.
1 year ago
LaurelCanyonBeads from LaurelCanyonBeads says:
wow- another interesting story, thanks so much for the varied reporting etsy, you give us something to ponder every day!
1 year ago
Dotty Walker from SewThoughtfulBlanket says:
I love the article. Thanks so much.
1 year ago
Linelle10 from Linelle10 says:
really interesting
1 year ago
hawaiigal says:
OMG! Good idea.
1 year ago
Heather Butler from MikiandHeather says:
How cool!
1 year ago
mazedasastoat from mazedasastoat says:
So, if I'm cracked I can end up being more valuable & beautiful, even if not more useful? Sounds good to me! :-)
1 year ago
Heather Salzman from JoyousCrafts says:
Cool!
1 year ago
pamalamb says:
How can we buy the kit?
1 year ago
ginacrg says:
Thank you! Now repair doesn't have to be perfect & unseen. This is inspiring! I love mazedasastoat's comment, too.
1 year ago
candy donnelly from Rt9NJvintageFun says:
Love this, thank for the info
1 year ago
Jess from volkerwandering says:
Cute video, I love the song. I like how they repaired the plate, very obvious, but in a neat way!
1 year ago
Parachute425 from Parachute425 says:
I did this several years ago but had no idea it had a name or was an "art". My young daughter bought me a glass picture frame for my birthday with her own money and as she was giving it to me she dropped it and it broke in several pieces. We glued it back together and I traced all the cracks with a silver puff paint adding a few extra "cracks" for balance and design. It still sits on the bookshelf, proudly displaying family photos. Recently my daughter asked - you kept that old thing? To me it's priceless.
1 year ago
Krista from TheBeadtriss says:
you always come up with interesting subjects! ~Krista
1 year ago
Sue from DaisyandFlorrie says:
Fascinating bit of history and a great "shabby chic" look.
1 year ago
Peshka from Peshka says:
That is Great!
1 year ago
Cheryl Davis from EraPhernaliaVintage says:
Oh, dear! Another fascinating tangent for me to explore! God I love the Internets! SO much information and me with a hardwired "probing sense of inquiry." (I can NEVER rest!!!)
1 year ago
Dorothy Aldridge from thedots says:
The Kintsugi technique works best on earthtones, whereas on a white and blue dish, it looks sloppy.
1 year ago
Lisa Jersey from JerseyGirlTrinkets says:
Lovely, thanks for sharing!
1 year ago
Blake McDaniel from blmcdaniel says:
I actually like how the cracks look on the white plate above. It gives an ancient look.
1 year ago
Nikki Weiss from myMountainStudio says:
Quite interesting. Thanks for sharing. :)
1 year ago
SamMcCain from SamMcCain says:
Sweet and quite beautiful. Thank you.
1 year ago
Linx Lung says:
I enjoyed your contrast between a Chinese city and Japanese technique. Its funny how those little "useless" art history stories your prof rambles about become rediscovered. While the technique requires much more work and practice to do in a traditional fashion, the starter kit is cute. For people looking for more information and related techniques, here is a good youtube video I stumbled upon: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3mZgs0vkDY&feature=player_embedded
1 year ago
Alana from silversamba says:
love this post
1 year ago
LuAnn Poli from PaisleyBeading says:
Loved, loved, loved this article! Thanks! I never knew there was such a thing, and it is great how the technique was duplicated in an inexpensive way. Artistic! I may try it.
1 year ago
Piegota from FullCircleRetro says:
What a simply & great idea..! =)
1 year ago
Unique Fabric Gifts from uniquefabricgifts says:
Interesting article! Thanks!
1 year ago
Debbie from UpcycledSwag says:
nice thks
1 year ago
Catherine from JanJat says:
To think of how many plates, mugs and serving platters have gone in the bin for no reason! For a clumsy, somewhat too-fast-for-your-own-good person (yes, me) this is a fantastic idea and gorgeous too :) Thank you for sharing this lovely technique and including a little history as well!
1 year ago
kristy davis says:
elegant yet fun,lovely
1 year ago
Miles and Aimee Harrison from AtomicAttic says:
Wish i knew of this when i was 6. Breaking one of my mothers decoration teacups had severe repercussions! Bouncy balls tend to have a mind of their own.
1 year ago
AnaBananster says:
Does anyone know if this glue is toxic?
1 year ago
Veronica from VeronicaRussekJoyas says:
Man, makes me wish I kept that celadon vase my dog knocked off the side table while looking through the window to guard our house. That vase was beautiful pottert and broken to shards. It would have looked gorgeous with the gold crack lines!
1 year ago
Latrouvaille from Latrouvaille says:
This is full of terrific ideas, some of wehich I am sure to try. Re Shanghai though, it is the biggest city in the world and boasts 6000 sky scrapers, so it is not surprizing that the weight is causing the city to sink. It is also fantastically exciting, gorgeous, efficient and surprizingly clean.
1 year ago
Sonja Smith from collageoscope says:
beautiful!
1 year ago
Michelle from MishaGirl says:
Fascinating!
1 year ago
Michiko Marshall from eastwestcrafts says:
Reminds me of Duchamp's Large Glass.
1 year ago
Piro from NamakoStudios says:
It's a pity Shanghai decided to decimate so much of what was fascinating about the city and replace it with monolithic and modern buildings that are just exacerbating the destruction of the joint. This is where the comparison doesn't work. The sinking of Shanghai has come about because they chose NOT to keep the old and repair it beautifully.
1 year ago
Anna Edwards from Stormscapestudio says:
Great to see someone doing a positive spin on a big problem. It's hard to control the damage humans are doing but it sure inspires some beautiful art.
1 year ago
Robin Grattarola from atomiclivinhome says:
LOVE IT!!~ {looks around} ...now, what do I have with cracks in it...?!
1 year ago
Imozon says:
Really beautiful article, thank you.
1 year ago
Myranda Escamilla from MyrandaE says:
oooh and I thought mosaic was fun!
1 year ago
Donna Thai from PetiteCuisine says:
Finding beauty in imperfection, I love it!
1 year ago
Rose Waterrose from Waterrose says:
I knew there was a reason I was keeping that bowl that I broke!
1 year ago
lighthousetropical from lighthousetropical says:
Interesting post. It also reminded me of Zhang Yimou's film The Road Home in which an itinerant porcelain repair man (apparently they existed in China) repairs a girl's bowl in a village. Its a beautiful, simple sequence and highlights the care and reuse of everyday, breakable objects. That's whan I first realised china could be "mended".
1 year ago
Sparrow from sparrowsalvage says:
There is a wonderful blog by Andrew Baseman which catalogs his huge collection of mended china through the centuries- there are some jaw-dropping examples of craftsman repair to objects that even in their contemporary days were too precious to throw away. There are a few artists now who work with faults and imperfections in antiques - including me! My jewelry is only the retail face- I also make textiles, assemblage and collage working with damaged antiques, exploring the process exactly described in this article- the process of taking a worthless valuable and making it priceless. I find it interesting that -especially in places such as the US and UK (less so in Australia), an antique's market value can tumble at the show of the slightest crack or scratch. I find especially ironic when there is a whole decor movement devoted to the chippy, faded and worn- even new products are designed to look damaged to fit into it. Curious creatures, we humans. To repair something is to re-incarnate; a new body and a new soul.
1 year ago
Erica from BurkeHareCo says:
Love this!
1 year ago
Emily Lim from shuqi says:
broken plate..intereting:)
1 year ago
Manda Wolfe from MandasArtStudio says:
isn't it so true that sometimes, something that seems broken is really just an amazing opportunity for something new to transpire. I call them happy mistakes!
1 year ago
Victoria Baker from LittleWrenPottery says:
Interesting, I'd never heard of this before! I always like the idea though that in Japanese ceramics things are 'fated' to happen. Even imperfections.
1 year ago
Erin says: Featured
Makes me think of my own city, Christchurch. With loads of cracks, empty spaces and a city devasted from natural disaster, we are also a city full of hope, optimism, and bright ideas on how to fill these spaces with beauty. We already have a non-profit organization called Gap Filler taking the initiative to fill empty lots with life and love while the city plans for the future. It's lovely to see this sort of thing in the minute detail of china repair. Repairing and rebuilding are acts of love and craftsmanship. It's nice to see them on all scales.
1 year ago
Tom's Grossmami from tomsgrossmami says:
Great!
1 year ago
Erica from SpectrumCosmetic says:
Great article! Awesome and beautiful way to salvage a loved piece :)
1 year ago
christina from esmeraldadesigns says:
wow-totally wabi-sabi, the beautiful art of imperfection.
1 year ago
Sweet Vintage Goods from SweetVintageGoods says:
Super!!
1 year ago
janicewd from janicewd says:
Interesting! Great to turn something all around and see it in a whole new light.
1 year ago
Kristin Evihan from evihan says:
soo clever way to repair:-)
1 year ago
pengworkshop from PengWorkshop says:
Great idea.
1 year ago
Debby from DebbysHandmadeGoods says:
I love the article - mended broken people are more loving and valuable as well.
1 year ago
Adriana Allen from adrianaallenllc says:
It is interesting, but somehow it still feels as a violence against space and harmony, and a betrayal of time. That which has been one and complete - is no longer, that which was perfectly harmonized - is no longer, the time continuum has been shattered and what it was - is no longer. Interesting, but not better.
1 year ago
Adrienne Lojeck from WingsOfClay says: Featured
Interesting, and it also reminds me of another Japanese art form that embraces the "mistake" and the "imperfection" as fertile ground for creativity: the dance form BUTOH. I am currently studying Butoh, and it is a wonderful, challenging Japanese post-modern dance form that involves tuning in to your body's twitches, pains, weaknesses, and imperfections, and translating that into dance. Like the shattered pottery shown above, Butoh draws the viewer in to the strange, alluring beauty of fragile imperfection.
1 year ago
livingproof from shoplivingproof says:
well written and interesting article. learning something new everyday.
1 year ago
AJ Marsden from OnlyOriginalsByAJ says:
Interesting idea! Thanks for sharing!
1 year ago
Liudmila Rosario Ponko from PonkoWorld says:
Great idea!! :)
1 year ago
TheInspiredTrader from TheInspiredTrader says:
I love this concept and the post is well done! The Tao states "If you want to become whole, first let yourself become broken". Perfectly imperfect!
1 year ago
TheInspiredTrader from TheInspiredTrader says:
I love this concept and the post is well written. The Tao states, "If you want to become whole, first let yourself become broken." Acceptance and the concept of imperfect perfection!
1 year ago
Ashley from AntiquesAsh says:
This is really beautiful! I feel like broken items are often discarded without the person thinking of what it took to make that item in the first place. I love that this it taking that into thought and also from then on it will be a personalized item you will have for a long time. It is a great idea and I will be using it.
1 year ago
Melinda from vintagefriends says:
This is really fascinating and welcome. Having badly fractured my ankle several months ago, with metal hardware now in my leg and long ugly scars on the outside, I'm inching toward the idea of detailing my scars with gold dust.
1 year ago
Rie Takeda from NeoJaponismAtelier says:
Great tip! Yes - Kintsugi plates can be used for very special occasions!!
1 year ago
Ryan Peters from clayguyry says:
I love the attitude of not giving up on a piece of your own work. I am definitely guilty of tossing unwanted pottery vs trying to figure out a solution to retain its beauty. But this gives me hope and a new vision on possible solutions that wont leave me thinking about the wasted time and energy, even though I learn best from my mistakes. Great tip!
1 year ago
Elizabeth from TailsandSnouts says:
Darn, wish I had known about this a few weeks ago when a massive amount of plates broke. So interesting though.
1 year ago
Adrien Miller from AdrienArt says:
Thanks for the history lesson, I've wondered how that tradition emerged. I've been doing a similar process using epoxy and gold leaf with pieces that crack during the firing like this one http://www.etsy.com/listing/85782750/erotic-art-ceramic-wall-platter-mature
1 year ago
BanglewoodSupplies from BanglewoodSupplies says:
Interesting!
1 year ago
Sarah from CopperheadCreations says:
Wow! I have a special talent for destroying all of our nice plates, so I wish I'd known about this sooner! :D These look really beautiful when put back together in this way.
1 year ago
Rose Marion from HeroineDesigns says:
That is so interesting, I love it! Who would have thought that a broken plate could still have value. Loved this article!
1 year ago
Laura Prill from lauraprill says:
powerful metaphor for life, we're all broken in some way. Seeing those golden repair lines is very moving to me.
1 year ago
Matilde Cánepa González from matildecanepaArtnow says:
Hello I like your store and how you like me butoh, although I do not, although I practice literally in his metaphor, I love him, and I love you algas.Me match like the taste of the masks that I made time and stoneware and paper mache.Linda your creativity.. Hola me gusta tu tienda y como a ti me gusta el butoh, aunque no lo hago, literalmente aunque creo practicarlo en su metáfora, me fascina verlo,y me encantan las algas.Me gusta coincidir contigo en el gusto por las mascaras que hice hace ya tiempo en gres y papel mache.Linda tu creatividad..
1 year ago
Matilde Cánepa González from matildecanepaArtnow says:
The cracks are part of my work plástica.Enterarme is a technique that I love applied
1 year ago
Clarra Norris from InspirationAlly says:
not my cup of tea
1 year ago
AMSkrafts from AMSkrafts says:
Great way to repair and reuse! It's so sad when beautiful ceramics break and must be tossed in the trash. And the use of gold color gives the plates a new look.
1 year ago
Donna from my2handsstudio says:
Recycling at it's best!
1 year ago
LisaSD from LisasCottage says:
I have quite a few broken china and ceramic pieces in a cool metal mid-century cabinet (also saved from the landfill) that I've stashed away waiting for inspiration. Thank you for providing that today. While I know that I can break them and use them for mosaic (in my SPARE time!), this idea is much easier to tackle and finish. I think I have a few that are just perfect for this, thank you!
1 year ago
Marcia Lacher from TheMillineryShop says:
Necessity always was the mother of invention and some are way better than others.
1 year ago
laura graves from bylauragraves says:
Love it - a great idea.
1 year ago
Jane E Roberti from janeeroberti says:
Love this tradition, which I was unaware of. It is akin to Japanese principles of "wabi sabi": "[Wabi-sabi] nurtures all that is authentic by acknowledging three simple realities: nothing lasts, nothing is finished, and nothing is perfect."[3] ^ Powell, Richard R. (2004). Wabi Sabi Simple. Adams Media http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wabi-sabi
1 year ago
Enterprise Americana from EnterpriseAmericana says:
Some times when we repair older pieces we avoid trying to hide the repair and let it become part of the history of the piece but this technique is something I'd never heard of before. ...and I like that. Great article.
1 year ago
GABALE from Gabale says:
Love the article. The SCAR of the objects makes me think about the story behid it, where , how , who broke it. thanks ! gabriela from Gabale http://gabaleatgabale.blogspot.com/
1 year ago
Michael Quirk from QuirkMuseum says:
This is great! I'm going downstairs right now to find my jar of powdered gold and smash some pottery.
1 year ago
Ada Ada from idajewelry66 says:
Very interesting and inspirational story!Thanks for sharing!
1 year ago
GraysonDesigns11 from GraysonDesigns11 says:
What a wonderful blog to read! I am always hesitant to toss out broken glassware. My two youngest sons recently broke an old glass bowl we inherited from my husbands grandmother. Now, it painfully sits in pieces on a high shelf in the kitchen. I think some gold seams would fix it right up!
1 year ago
Omar Ahmed says:
I like turtles
1 year ago
Omar Ahmed says:
I like turtles
1 year ago
Omar Ahmed says:
I really like turtles.
1 year ago
Omar Ahmed says:
document.write('turtle');
1 year ago
Cassey Shapiro says:
Hi all - the kit is now available at Mora Approved if you'd like to take a stab at some Kintsugi repairing yourself! The glue is non-toxic (after two days drying) and it really reinvigorates your broken ceramics! We're a british shop, but we ship to the US for $10. Check it out here! http://bit.ly/VOBsH5 Cassey x
170 days ago