Oops… dropped your favorite mug? No worries. A crack doesn’t mean something is ruined forever. Sometimes, it’s where a new story begins.
During this Pop Up, you’ll discover the Japanese art of kintsugi: an ancient technique of repairing broken ceramics with gold. Instead of hiding cracks, kintsugi highlights them. The golden lines become part of the object’s story, making every piece unique.
Led by Min Say, a kintsugi artist based in Rotterdam, you’ll try your hand at modern kintsugi. This accessible version is inspired by the traditional technique, while using safe and modern materials. Step by step, you’ll restore a broken ceramic object and add a golden finish to highlight its unique cracks and lines. At the end of the session, you’ll take home your own one-of-a-kind creation: an object that isn’t beautiful despite its imperfections, but because of them.
Good to know: there’s plenty of ceramics for you to work with during the Pop Up. Want to bring your own broken ceramic piece? You’re welcome to! As long as it consists of no more than 4 broken pieces, we can give it a new life.
You don’t have to register for Pop Ups, you can just walk by and join in.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
During her kintsugi journey, Min Say became fascinated by the beauty of things that are often seen as “broken” or “unwanted”. A crack in a pavement, a damaged object or an imperfect detail, everything carries a story. Through kintsugi, she invites us to look at what already exists from a different perspective, embracing both the beautiful and the difficult parts.
This Pop Up is organized in the run-up to Sustainability Day on 29 September: a moment to reflect on repair, reuse and giving things a second life.