Disability and the Japanese art of Kintsukuroi.
My niece recently put up a post on her Facebook - My niece recently put up a post on her Facebook - In Japan broken objects are often repaired with gold, The flaw is seen as part of its unique history, which adds to its beauty.
Apart from just a good saying that touched me,
as I’ve been a follower of Japanese philosophy for some years I decided to find
out some more about it. Perhaps I could learn something from this principle.
It is known as the art of kintsugi or kintsukuroi. The art as aptly put in the post above is where a broken piece of pottery is repaired with gold, platinum or silver lacquer thus making it more interesting than it was and adding something precious to it known as “wabi-sabi,” we embrace the flawed or the imperfect.
The philosophy behind the technique is to recognize the history of the object and to visibly incorporate the repair into the new piece instead of disguising it. The process usually results in something more beautiful than the original.
I was thinking how wonderful a concept it was and whether we could learn to see disability in the same refreshing way.
Rather than the person being broken or disabled either physically or mentally for a substantial length of time (part 1 & 2 of the Equality Act definition). The impairment itself or the pieces of equipment we use whether a stick, wheelchair or other enabling equipment makes us combined with our history unique more than we are/where.
It is known as the art of kintsugi or kintsukuroi. The art as aptly put in the post above is where a broken piece of pottery is repaired with gold, platinum or silver lacquer thus making it more interesting than it was and adding something precious to it known as “wabi-sabi,” we embrace the flawed or the imperfect.
The philosophy behind the technique is to recognize the history of the object and to visibly incorporate the repair into the new piece instead of disguising it. The process usually results in something more beautiful than the original.
I was thinking how wonderful a concept it was and whether we could learn to see disability in the same refreshing way.
Rather than the person being broken or disabled either physically or mentally for a substantial length of time (part 1 & 2 of the Equality Act definition). The impairment itself or the pieces of equipment we use whether a stick, wheelchair or other enabling equipment makes us combined with our history unique more than we are/where.
Just because it’s not in its perfect state, doesn’t mean it has no value.
Adding something to it increases its beauty and value.
In seeing the broken we can respect its history where it’s come from, how its survived, and give it significance.
Seeing disability in this light doesn’t quite imbue us with gold, silver or platinum but makes disabled people beautiful regardless, as something distinct and unique. Thus through our disability and following the philosophy of this art, we should all hold our heads up high; being disabled and seeing the worth and value in each other and our distinctness
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