Introductory seminar on the Kintsugi technique with a small hands-on activity

Kintsugi is an ancient Japanese technique for repairing ceramics, developed around 500 years ago in connection with the culture of the Tea Ceremony. Using natural urushi lacquer and pure gold powder, cracks are not hidden but highlighted, transforming the repair into an aesthetic and symbolic gesture.

The seminar offers a brief theoretical introduction to the historical origins of Kintsugi and to the culture of Japanese lacquer (urushi-bunka), followed by a practical experience that allows participants to become familiar with the use of urushi and to try one of the fundamental steps of the traditional technique: kin-maki, the decoration of cracks with a dusting of pure gold powder.

During the session, each participant will be provided with a Japanese Imari porcelain bowl (Edo period), which will be used for practice and can be taken home at the end of the experience.

This course serves as an introduction to the full 4-lesson workshop that will take place in 2027.