Kintsugi of the Soul: Embracing the Broken

Kintsugi of the Soul: Embracing the Broken is a deeply personal and transformative journey through the art of Kintsugi, exploring themes of resilience, healing, and the profound beauty that emerges from acknowledging our vulnerabilities. In this body of work, I use plaster cast torsos to represent distinct stages of this journey.

The first torso presents a stark and unvarnished portrayal of the enduring impact of words used in family violence. Showing the words and phrases on the cast, serves as a visceral testament to the emotional wounds inflicted by cohesive control, emotional and verbal abuse. These words, like physical scars, are in embedded in the plaster, underscoring the painful reality that words can cut as deeply as physical violence. This initial piece is an unfiltered reflection of the harsh reality faced by countless individuals who have endured the trauma of abusive language.

In the second torso, the process of healing commences. Delicate stitches traverse the surface, mirroring the act of mending a broken soul. These stitches are not solely physical; they symbolise the inner strength required to confront one's pain and initiate the path towards recovery. As the words on the surface begin to fade, they symbolise the gradual process of moving beyond the scars inflicted by harmful language. This piece embodies the resilience of survivors, illustrating their courage in the face of adversity as they begin to reclaim their voices and sense of self-worth.

The final torso encapsulates the essence of Kintsugi, a Japanese art form that mends broken pottery with precious metals, enhancing its beauty and value. Here, Kintsugi is applied to the wounded surface, transforming the cracks into shimmering veins of gold. This stage represents not just healing.