AIR Kintsugi Open Call

[New Program] 2025 Kintsugi Residency Program

Artist-in-Residence – Toma House x Clementine Nuttall

[OPEN CALL] 2025 Kintsugi Residency Program

A: Oct. 4th (Sat.) ~ Oct. 31st (Fri.) 2025

B: Nov. 8th (Sat.) ~ Dec. 5th (Fri.) 2025

Toma House AIR is thrilled to announce our new open call for Kintsugi Residency Program in collaboration with artist Clementine Nuttall.

This is a 4-week intensive program designed for those who want to learn the traditional method of kintsugi using natural urushi lacquer. The lessons will take place in the studio of Toma House AIR – a registered cultural property and former priest family’s home in Nara City. The lessons will be delivered in English with terminology in Japanese to provide the most comprehensive understanding of kintsugi.

This program is for those who want to explore:

  • The art of kintsugi and ceramics
  • The deep relationship between kintsugi and Japanese aesthetic of wabi-sabi
  • Urushi lacquer and its relationship with kintsugi
  • The art of conservation and restoration

What you will learn:

  • The practical steps to repair cracks, chips and breaks
  • The traditional kintsugi method using natural urushi lacquer
  • Hand-craft some traditional kintsugi tools for yourself
  • The use of urushi and some maki-e techniques that can be employed in your personal kintsugi projects

What is included:

  • A Kintsugi Handbook designed for the program
  • A Standard Kintsugi Kit for each participant
  • 4 week accommodation within Toma House AIR’s premise in Nara City
    • Your own private bedroom with shared studio, kitchenette, toilet, shower, washing machine, utilities and wi-fi access.
    • It is possible to bring your partner to stay, an additional charge will be applied for an extra person in the same room.

Important Notes:

  • This is a self-funded open-call program. Participants will finance themselves throughout the program.
  • For artists, students and scholars who are seeking to enroll in the program with a grant or funding, we will assist with the necessary documents for you to apply for the fundings.
  • This program aims to teach the traditional kintsugi method using genuine urushi lacquer. This sap from urushi trees has been used by artists, craftspeople and conservators for millennia.It is an extraordinary natural material that restores strength and utility to broken ceramics, safe for food after being dried completely.
  • Please be aware that wet urushi may cause skin irritation or allergic reactions, depending on the individual. We will teach you safety measures to handle urushi, however we cannot take responsibility for any significant allergy reactions occured to the individuals.

CLEMENTINE NUTTALL – ARTIST & INSTRUCTOR

Your primary instructor, Clementine Nuttall, is a British artist, conservator, and craftsperson with a decade of experience working with kintsugi. Driven by a deep passion for the philosophies of making, mending, and material culture, she moved to Tokyo in 2017, as a recipient of the Japanese Ministry of Culture’s Monbukagakusho Scholarship, to study kintsugi at Tokyo University of the Arts’ Department of Lacquer. Clementine is committed to preserving and sharing this traditional Japanese technique with a global audience while exploring its potential to contribute to a more sustainable world. She will guide you through the fundamental processes of kintsugi, encouraging you to approach the method through your unique perspective while honoring the traditions and techniques of the past.

CLICK TO APPLY

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

  1. Please read and understand the Application Guidelines before starting the application.
  2. Fill in the Online Application Form.
  3. Toma House AIR will contact you to schedule an online interview after we have received and assessed your application internally.
  4. We will contact you with the result.
  5. Application due date: June 30th (Mon.), 2025

SEND US AN INQUIRY

Related Posts

Copyright © 2022 TOMA UNTRSTORED
Theme: Anecdote Lite By Powered by WordPress.