What you'll leave with
- Your own kintsugi-repaired plate, mended with gold lacquer
- The kintsugi technique, ready to use on broken pieces at home
- A different way of looking at breakage, repair, and resilience
Workshop in detail
Break a plate, then make it beautiful again with Annelies, using kintsugi: the Japanese technique of repairing broken ceramics with gold. The word means “golden joinery,” and the philosophy behind it, wabi-sabi, is about finding beauty in imperfection and transience rather than starting over.
The session opens with the story behind the craft, and why restoring something can carry more meaning than replacing it. Then comes a moment of stillness: you learn to let go of perfection and project your own tension onto the object, before gently breaking it.
From there, you piece your bowl or plate back together with golden kintsugi glue, working with focus and patience as the cracks become the most visible part of it. The session closes with space to reflect on what you have made, whether that means sharing the experience or simply sitting with the quiet. You leave with a restored object, sealed in gold, and a different way of thinking about repair.
Details
Duration
2 hours
Group size
4–6 participants
Minimum age
12+
Language
English and Dutch
Location
Apron Studio
Paleisstraat 107, 1012 ZL Amsterdam
This venue is not accessible for visitors with reduced mobility.
Good to know
- The workshop takes place in a former merchant house near Dam Square.
- No experience is needed: just bring curiosity, along with a plate or bowl you are willing to break (extras are available in the studio if you do not have one).
- Wear something comfortable that you do not mind getting a little messy.
- Materials, and coffee or tea, are included.
- Suitable for ages 12 and up.
- The location is not wheelchair accessible, though assistance animals are welcome and it is close to public transport.
- Offered in Dutch and English.
Meet your artisan
Annelies Nuy
Annelies Nuy is a Dutch artist, curator and concept developer working at the intersection of art, fashion and technology. Her multidisciplinary practice explores how artistic concepts can move beyond traditional exhibition spaces and enter everyday life through wearable sculpture, immersive environm…
Speaks English, Dutch, Spanish
Read Annelies's full storyQuestions
Still have a question, or want to change something about a booking? Email bookings@handworks.nl.