kintsugi: repaired brokenness photography?

David A. Goldfarb · Aug 20, 2018

If no one experiments or takes risks, we’ll never have anything new.

When I’ve been invited to review a book that hasn’t particularly appealed to me, I’ve generally turned it down. One can make a name for oneself by writing snarky negative reviews, but I’ve generally found it unproductive and moved on to things that I think I can contribute to in a positive way. Better to infect others with my own enthusiasm for something than to bring negative feelings to something that I can’t connect with.

Keep posting Valerie.

Valerie · Aug 20, 2018

Many thanks to the posts with constructive criticism. They are quite helpful and welcomed by me!

jawarden said:
it's easy to overpower a piece with gold, and I find myself drawn to the ones that use less of it,

Thank you for the feedback. As I do more, I am coming to the same conclusion.

eddie said:
Is she related to David?

David Brown is a dear friend, but no relation! ;-)

4season · Aug 20, 2018

awty said:
Hey Im happy to understand if someone will explain to me.

I've never actually tried traditional kintsugi, but my understanding is that it's a slow process in which a person gets to know the piece being repaired intimately. And that it's as much about getting to know one's self as it is about simply repairing broken pottery. Welcome to Japanese Buddhist thinking, my own knowledge of which is pretty superficial.

awty · Aug 20, 2018

Valerie said:
Too bad we are so far apart, geographically. I would so enjoy sitting down over a beverage and talk about what led to this project. Lots of little ideas that converged. Nothing at all to do with marketing, but with life. Sadly, its very hard for me to get that across in an artist statement. FYI--Blue Poles is one of my favorites, too!

Sorry Valerie I didnt put 2 and 2 together. I was more on about "kintsugi" not particular your work. To be honest I didnt look through it very well and should of and will now. I am pleased you would love to explain and educate me on my ignorance and not get all huffed up over it. I should stay away from the key board.

jtk · Aug 20, 2018

Other things that come to mind are the Christian ideas of "broken" and "born again" as well as the way raku pottery works conceptually.

nmp · Aug 20, 2018

Making a quilt, as it was practiced at its inception, using rags and pieces of fabric, can be perhaps seen as another example.

:Niranjan,

removed account4 · Aug 21, 2018

valerie - great to see you here and links to your work
always inspiring !
i love how the gold hasn't taken over, how the images have a harmony
and it doesn't matter if it is an image with LOTS of it or a few dabbs here and there.
the gold makes you wonder what was underneath and at the same time it lets you not wonder.
its a great tension.

john

awty · Aug 21, 2018

4season said:
I've never actually tried traditional kintsugi, but my understanding is that it's a slow process in which a person gets to know the piece being repaired intimately. And that it's as much about getting to know one's self as it is about simply repairing broken pottery. Welcome to Japanese Buddhist thinking, my own knowledge of which is pretty superficial.

Thanks, I can make sense of that, I sometimes end up in a big argument with something Im repairing, there could be benefit in getting to know something first and averting clashes later on. Whats with the lashings of gold?(of cause Valerie's pictures are very subtle and if it weren't for the association with the bowls I wouldn't of made any connection instead of going of in a tangent) This is what got my goat, gold speaks of opulence, for those who can afford to throw away last seasons dress. It is very environmentally unfriendly to extract from the earth, so there must be another reason?

Theo Sulphate · Aug 21, 2018

Well, I'm unable to view the photos, but... wouldn't any other metal or substance work just as well? I think it's the process that's important. Personally, gold has never appealed to me; I have nothing that's gold.

David Brown · Aug 21, 2018

Valerie said:
David Brown is a dear friend, but no relation! ;-)

Vaughn · Aug 21, 2018

awty said:
...This is what got my goat, gold speaks of opulence, for those who can afford to throw away last seasons dress. It is very environmentally unfriendly to extract from the earth, so there must be another reason?

Written to an entire forum dedicated to the use of silver! Art and gold have been mates since both met. However, you are correct about the love of gold. I just returned from the big city. I saw a couple of gold 'grills' that had me shaking my head (gold coverings for one's teeth).

Valerie...your images make me wish to see them in person. Wonderful! I also enjoyed the EyeFeminie series...thoughtful use of three images/triptych for telling your stories.

Valerie · Aug 21, 2018

Thanks again to everyone who engaged with such thoughtful remarks (both likes and dislikes-- both are needed and appreciated).

Vaughn said:
Valerie...your images make me wish to see them in person. Wonderful! I also enjoyed the EyeFeminie series...thoughtful use of three images/triptych for telling your stories.

Working hard to get them shown more... but marketing is NOT my forte (contrary to what some believe). ;-)

Raphael · Aug 21, 2018

Hi Valerie,
Glad to see you around

I read with great interest the different points here.
It doesn't probably matter, but @Valerie, and Paul (@awty), I should say I appreciate the works of both of you ! And yes, there is enough room for all...

awty · Aug 21, 2018

David A. Goldfarb said:
If no one experiments or takes risks, we’ll never have anything new.

When I’ve been invited to review a book that hasn’t particularly appealed to me, I’ve generally turned it down. One can make a name for oneself by writing snarky negative reviews, but I’ve generally found it unproductive and moved on to things that I think I can contribute to in a positive way. Better to infect others with my own enthusiasm for something than to bring negative feelings to something that I can’t connect with.

Keep posting Valerie.

Yes, I like experiments, I want to know how Valerie incorporated the gold into the picture....... and then I dont because it is magic and theres not enough magic in the world now days.
I have flash backs of Thumper quoting his father "if you cant say sumthing nice, dont say nuffin at all"

Having done a brief self study of Kintsugi (I googled it), it seems to be first used as a practical way of repairing broken crockery for the elite, the use of gold was more aesthetically pleasing than metal. Think it then developed into an art which incorporated a philosophy of types.
What I did find interesting is that it lead me to Wabi-sabi, not only a great name but a great philosophy. I think it roughly translates to me "rough enough is good enough". I love imperfection. Im really good at being imperfect, a philosophy I can embrace.....

Valerie · Aug 25, 2018

Serendipitousl (wow! that's quite a word!), this showed up in my inbox today.... https://www.artsy.net/article/artsy...-25-18&utm_campaign=editorial&utm_content=st-

DBphotography · Aug 30, 2018

awty said:
Leave some of the damage, it adds character

There's the whole point of kintsugi. It's not about "turning junk into art", it's about not trying to cover up imperfection, but integrate it into the whole.

Vaughn · Aug 30, 2018

Thanks for the link, Valerie. A good history and explanation.

Wabi-sabi is another kettle of fish! I believe it is what leads to large concrete structures (city buildings, etc) in Japan to never get washed. Westeners tend to see it as dirty, but the Japanese see it perhaps as a sign of impermence, of wabi-sabi. Creating a patina of age...celebrating change.

awty · Aug 31, 2018

DBphotography said:
There's the whole point of kintsugi. It's not about "turning junk into art", it's about not trying to cover up imperfection, but integrate it into the whole.

I think it was once something and has since evolved to be something else..... I do like imperfections, it gives character, its when its deliberate or central that for me becomes fuzzy.

scheimfluger_77 · Aug 31, 2018

Valerie said:
Serendipitousl (wow! that's quite a word!), this showed up in my inbox today.... https://www.artsy.net/article/artsy...-25-18&utm_campaign=editorial&utm_content=st-

Great article, thanks for sharing it. This makes me think differerently about what to do with test/“off”/boring/not what I was thinking of type prints and pieces.

kintsugi: repaired brokenness photography?

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