Nicole Campbell MBE, based in South Yorkshire, is launching a charity auction in aid of Cancer Research UK, showcasing the ancient Japanese art of kintsugi.
Nicole says:
“The philosophy behind kintsugi is ‘That which was broken, once repaired, becomes stronger and more beautiful’ – a wonderful metaphor for life and in particular for those of us who are living with cancer. It is about honouring scars, rather than hiding them, and finding hope in renewal.”
A practitioner of traditional kintsugi, Nicole has repaired ceramics donated by some of the leading restaurants in the UK using traditional methods and gold, to create unique and beautiful objects that will be sold in a charity auction that will run from 7th-18th September, hosted by Tennants Auctioneers.
The idea for the auction was sparked after she offered to repair chipped plates for Kol, a Michelin starred Mexican restaurant in London, who were delighted with the finished pieces because the gold chimed with Aztec tradition. Nicole notes that:
“I realised that although kintsugi is rooted in Japanese tradition, in fact, it also is very relatable to other cultures. Also, many of us have magical memories of a lunch or dinner, often to celebrate a special occasion with our loved ones. I am hoping that these pieces will become links to those memories and we can raise a significant amount for this incredible charity”.
Nicole came to traditional kintsugi late in life after a career as a speech therapist and has delighted in discovering a passion and talent for something that brings her so much satisfaction and joy. She fell in love with Asian ceramics, and especially kintsugi, when studying history of art and later working for Sotheby’s. Deciding to explore the art further, she found it a difficult skill to learn in the UK, but she was fortunate that one of the world’s leading kintsugi artists, Yuko Gunji, saw her work and offered to mentor her with masterclasses.
Rather than charging for her work, Nicole asks owners of the pieces she restores instead to make a donation to either her local hospice St Luke’s or, as in this instance, to Cancer Research UK. When she hands a piece back, not only does she have the pleasure of having repaired a once-broken object, she gets to reunite the owners with a much-loved piece, which is often full of memories and emotions.
She says: “To be able to hand the pieces back, repaired with traditional kintsugi, and to see their owner’s reaction, is a huge reward in itself”.
ABOUT KINTSUGI
Kintsugi [kin = gold, tsugi = to join] is the ancient Japanese art of repairing broken ceramics, in an aesthetically pleasing manner that honours the history of the object.
Using urushi lacquer, derived from the sap of the urushi tree, cracks, chips and breaks are repaired and finally beautifully delineated usually with the addition of gold.
Whilst urushi has been used to repair pots for thousands of years, kintsugi as it is known today is thought to have originated in the 15th century during the Muromachi period (1336-1573). According to lore, the Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimasa (1436-1490) broke a much-cherished Chinese tea bowl. Having sent the bowl to China to be repaired, it returned with what he considered to be ugly metal staples, and he instructed Japanese craftsmen to find a more pleasing way to repair the item.
Kintsugi is rooted in the Zen philosophy of wabi-sabi, in which imperfections contribute to beauty rather than diminishing it. The art of traditional kintsugi creates unique pieces that speak of sustainability, of hope and of beauty in imperfection.
Traditional kintsugi is not to be confused with ‘modern’ or ‘neo/fake’ kintsugi which is mostly taught in the West; it uses epoxy resins and gold varnish – this is often a fun hobby and can be done in a day. Traditional kintsugi uses only natural products, involves many complex techniques and traditional materials. Each piece takes between 6 weeks to 3 months to complete, requiring skill and patience.
ABOUT THE AUCTION
The auction will be a timed online auction, hosted by Tennants Auctioneers, based in North Yorkshire. Bidding will be open from 7th to 18th September. There will be nearly seventy lots on offer, including ceramics donated from the following restaurants:
Alchemilla
Etch
Grace & Savour
Henrock
Kol
Hide
Hjem
Jöro
L’Enclume
Le Manoir Aux Quat’Saisons
Lumiere
Mýse
Opheem
Paul Ainsworth at No.6
Pine
Rogan & Co.
St John’s
sō-lō
The Black Swan, Oldstead
The Clove Club
The Little Chartroom
The Walled Gardens
UPSTAIRS by Tom Shepherd
Where the Light Gets In
Ynyshir
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