The Art of Kintsugi Workshop
If you follow us on our socials or have popped into the shop recently, then you're probably aware that we have just launched a small series of workshops to take place in the studio at the back of our shop in Poundbury. The first in the series is our Kintsugi Workshop for Beginners.
As you know, sustainability is at the heart of what we do here at byFoke and one of the driving forces behind our brand, so it makes perfect sense that our first ever creative workshop is about an ancient Japanese technique that celebrates the art of repair. The philosophy that when something gets broken it can be repaired to be even better than it was, is one that we are ready to fully embrace.
A little bit about Kintsugi
Kintsugi is the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery using gold. As a philosophy, it treats breakage and repair as part of the history of an object, rather than something to disguise. An ancient technique that resonates perfectly with the sustainable practices of today, an opportunity to embrace imperfection and celebrate repair.
If you would like to learn more about the history of this Japanese technique then there is a wonderful article on the Artsy site about The Centuries-Old Japanese Tradition of Mending Broken Ceramics with Gold which is a fascinating read.
What to expect during the workshop
During this two hour work shop, you will learn the basics of the kintsugi technique and have a chance to try these techniques for yourself under our guidance. You will be given your own kintsugi repair kit to use during the evening and to take away with you to work on future kintsugi projects. We will provide two ceramic pieces that you can work on during the workshop so that you can fully explore your new skills and practice your techniques. The pieces we will provide will start the evening off whole and you will have the option to break them yourself (under our guidance) or we can break them for you. From there you will be able to reassemble your pieces using the kintsugi technique, creating two stunning new pieces that you can take home with you. At the end of the workshop you will be able to take your kintsugi repair kit away with you to use on any broken pieces that you may have at home.
These workshops have been designed to be a relaxing mindful experience, an opportunity to spend an evening in our studio chatting with friends (or making new ones), enjoying a glass of wine and learning a new skill.
You don't need to have any previous experience or special skills to take part and enjoy this workshop, it has not been designed to make you an expert in Kintsugi (that takes years), but these basic techniques will allow you to beautifully repair objects at home and the more you practice the more you will be able to achieve.
Workshop Details & Booking
Our first Kintsugi Workshop will be taking place on Thursday 20th July 2023, after that we will be running them periodically throughout the year, please check our Workshops page for full details and booking.
New dates for September workshops now available to book.
