The Dishes Are Done

(Bison Kintsugi technique)


(Tectonic Repair technique)

Some readers of this blog may remember an entry I posted earlier this year on the art of Wabi-Sabi: The Japanese concept of "imperfect beauty," ... an embrace of imperfections, to say the least. Well, today I came across an artist by the name of Lotte Dekker, who is taking this concept to another level!

Lotte Dekker developed a new technique for repairing porcelain based on kintsugi (literally golden joinery in Japanese), a 15th century Japanese technique that repairs porcelain with gold leafing. It became so popular during its peak that people deliberately broke their own pottery so they also could have it "repaired."

Dekker's technique, called "Bison Kintsugi," is kintsugi in spirit, but instead uses modern-day Bison glue and inexpensive gold powder to achieve similar results. Dekker also another technique she calls "Tectonic Repair," using a kneadable glue that widens and essentially reshapes the cracks. By reshaping the crack, instead of denying it, the object is allowed to become a new form altogether. And may I add that this technique is highly green, which only adds to the relevance of incorporating the concept in our design solutions today.

A fascination for challenging aesthetics continues...

-S

The Dishes Are Done

(Bison Kintsugi technique)


(Tectonic Repair technique)

Some readers of this blog may remember an entry I posted earlier this year on the art of Wabi-Sabi: The Japanese concept of "imperfect beauty," ... an embrace of imperfections, to say the least. Well, today I came across an artist by the name of Lotte Dekker, who is taking this concept to another level!

Lotte Dekker developed a new technique for repairing porcelain based on kintsugi (literally golden joinery in Japanese), a 15th century Japanese technique that repairs porcelain with gold leafing. It became so popular during its peak that people deliberately broke their own pottery so they also could have it "repaired."

Dekker's technique, called "Bison Kintsugi," is kintsugi in spirit, but instead uses modern-day Bison glue and inexpensive gold powder to achieve similar results. Dekker also another technique she calls "Tectonic Repair," using a kneadable glue that widens and essentially reshapes the cracks. By reshaping the crack, instead of denying it, the object is allowed to become a new form altogether. And may I add that this technique is highly green, which only adds to the relevance of incorporating the concept in our design solutions today.

A fascination for challenging aesthetics continues...

-S

In an Empire State of Mind

So cool! If you have the time, this is a fascinating video about Manhattan's pre-city ecology - accurate down to the block. This piece really gives a unique understanding on how Manhattan became the metropolis that it is today, and really gets down to the factors that have led to its grand design.

I heart NYC.

-S

In an Empire State of Mind

So cool! If you have the time, this is a fascinating video about Manhattan's pre-city ecology - accurate down to the block. This piece really gives a unique understanding on how Manhattan became the metropolis that it is today, and really gets down to the factors that have led to its grand design.

I heart NYC.

-S

The Artist Formally Known as PRINTS!

I'm not a shopper-type, per se’, even though I was raised smack dab in the hotbed of consumerist culture, AKA: United States of America. Something about owning an object makes me feel like the object is owning me. I don't know if that makes sense, but in any case, there are some things that I do enjoy collecting from time to time. If I had to say, I guess I'm a sucker for stimuli in my purchasing habits… ART!

For instance, I have a thing for buying prints. I love how on the one hand they're made in a way that's optimal for mass production, but then on the other hand they're often printed in limited edition series, signed and dated. I love how each print has a unique imperfection made during the creation process, and I love how simple they look - especially letterpress prints that usually use no more than 3 colors. Letterpress is my favorite printing method.

I just purchased this wonderful set of 3 prints by Maria Alexandra Vettese and Christopher David Ryan out of Maine, and I can't wait to have them framed and hung in my new place. The set is called "Staring at the Sun," and the 1st print (the girl with the oversided sunglasses) alone sold me on it! The retro tone, sexy B&W mood and galactic subject matter all work for me.

Just to backtrack on this talk of prints, this whole thing started when I was looking for a class on letterpress printing in L.A. I'm trying to find a course/factory/artist or anyone who could teach me techniques in printmaking. It's my 2010 resolution to make more art, rather than just observe it or communicate it on my blog.

In a nutshell, I wanna make kick-ass letterpress posters with all the ideas that are crowding my brain... can anyone show me the way?

-S

The Artist Formally Known as PRINTS!

I'm not a shopper-type, per se’, even though I was raised smack dab in the hotbed of consumerist culture, AKA: United States of America. Something about owning an object makes me feel like the object is owning me. I don't know if that makes sense, but in any case, there are some things that I do enjoy collecting from time to time. If I had to say, I guess I'm a sucker for stimuli in my purchasing habits… ART!

For instance, I have a thing for buying prints. I love how on the one hand they're made in a way that's optimal for mass production, but then on the other hand they're often printed in limited edition series, signed and dated. I love how each print has a unique imperfection made during the creation process, and I love how simple they look - especially letterpress prints that usually use no more than 3 colors. Letterpress is my favorite printing method.

I just purchased this wonderful set of 3 prints by Maria Alexandra Vettese and Christopher David Ryan out of Maine, and I can't wait to have them framed and hung in my new place. The set is called "Staring at the Sun," and the 1st print (the girl with the oversided sunglasses) alone sold me on it! The retro tone, sexy B&W mood and galactic subject matter all work for me.

Just to backtrack on this talk of prints, this whole thing started when I was looking for a class on letterpress printing in L.A. I'm trying to find a course/factory/artist or anyone who could teach me techniques in printmaking. It's my 2010 resolution to make more art, rather than just observe it or communicate it on my blog.

In a nutshell, I wanna make kick-ass letterpress posters with all the ideas that are crowding my brain... can anyone show me the way?

-S

Visual Buffet: Guido Mocafico

Guido Mocafico is a Swiss-born photographer who draws inspiration from Dutch Masters of the 17th Century, such as Pieter Claesz, Alexandre-François Desportes, and Floris van Dijck.

These prints would make a dramatic focal point to any dining room, but personally, I'd love to have one hanging over my headboard in the bedroom (well maybe not the dead carcass of a rabbit.) Talk about an aphrodisiac.

-S