The piece is inspired by Kintsugi, the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery by mending the areas of breakage with gold.

 

The Kintsugi philosophy is based on the idea that beauty can be found in imperfection.  Rather than try to disguise the flaws, the Kintsugi technique highlights and draws attention to them. It treats the breakage and repair as part of the history of an object (the self), rather than something to disguise.  The new piece ultimately is stronger and more resilient.

 

As Justin Whitmel Earley said, "The scars are the design. Your attention is drawn to the cracks and how they are mended. That is what you’re supposed to see. The beauty is in the brokenness."