ARTISTIC PHILOSPOHY
Facette Gallery is a contemporary art practice exploring modern kintsugi through sculptural ceramics and functional objects. Rooted in the Japanese philosophy of repair and imperfection, each piece recontextualizes breakage as a deliberate and visible act—transforming damage into structure, narrative, and value.
The work sits at the intersection of collectible design and fine art, engaging themes of resilience, material memory, and transformation.
WHAT IS MODERN KINTSUGI?
Modern kintsugi is a contemporary artistic practice that reinterprets the traditional Japanese method of repair through a conceptual lens. While rooted in the philosophy of embracing imperfection, it moves beyond restoration to engage breakage as a deliberate and generative act.
In this context, fracture and repair become compositional tools. Artists reconstruct ceramic forms using contrasting materials—often highlighting seams rather than concealing them—so that damage becomes integral to the final work. The result is not a return to an original state, but the creation of a new object in which history, intervention, and transformation are inseparable.
MODERN KINTSUGI PROCESS + MATERIALS
I source ceramic pieces online from all over the world and work with ceramicists to create custom pieces. The modern kintsugi process can not be applied to certain materials such as glass, as the material shatters too much when broken. Then, a 4-step process is applied. First, I take a hammer to the piece to strategically guide the breaks in the most aesthetically pleasing way possible. A part of the beauty of the process is that the breaks can not truly be controlled. Even I am always surprised how a piece looks when it is finally finished. Second, the piece is bonded back together with a special glue. Next, is a cleaning process to remove all of the glue residue. Finally, gold acrylic paint is applied on top of all of the break lines with a 'drip and drag' technique.
WHAT IS TRADITIONAL KINTSUGI?
Traditional kintsugi is a historic technique, dating back to the 15th century, in which broken ceramics are repaired using urushi lacquer dusted with precious metals such as gold, silver, or platinum. Originating in Japan, the practice emerged from a cultural preference for restoration methods that honored, rather than concealed, damage.
The process emphasizes visibility, allowing cracks to remain present as part of the object’s surface. Associated with the philosophy of wabi-sabi, kintsugi reflects an aesthetic that values imperfection, impermanence, and the passage of time. The repaired object is not altered in intent, but restored with care—its fractures preserved as a record of use, damage, and continuity.
TIME
The time from start to finished piece varies based on a number of factors: size, integrity of material and complexity of the design. A larger piece with many curved areas, for example, will take longer to complete than a small cylinder vase.
CARE
Water will degrade the paint on the surface. Please never expose a piece to water. To remove dust, clean lightly with a soft cloth or feather duster.
LONGEVITY
If properly cared for and treated gently, the piece should last for the lifetime of the owner.
