Mumbai enjoys Japanese art of piecing broken things back together

Bombay Times curated an afternoon of mindful creativity and meaningful connection with a Kintsugi workshop under its BT Life.Styled Club banner — an experience that gently blended art, philosophy and the joy of slowing down. Rooted in the Japanese practice of embracing imperfections, the session invited participants to quite literally piece things back together, transforming broken fragments into objects of beauty.

What made the afternoon especially engaging was the excitement around the process itself. Participants carefully placed their planters into cloth bags and then, with a mix of hesitation and thrill, hammered them into pieces — a moment that sparked laughter, surprise and even disbelief. What initially seemed destructive quickly transformed into a creative high, as everyone leaned into the idea of rebuilding with care and intention. There was a palpable sense of joy in the room, with curious minds fully immersed in the act of breaking, creating and healing.

Creativity, connection and calm took centre stage
Among the youngest attendees was 11-year-old Meher Ved, who talking about the experience, said, “I love doing art and I’m very fond of painting. My grandfather saw this and booked tickets because he found it unique. He wanted to show me how in Japan, people fix broken things, whereas in India we often throw them away. It’s nice to see that cultural difference. I’m here with my grandfather and this was a great bonding experience.”

For Dhara Patel, the workshop offered a refreshing alternative to the usual weekend routine. She said, “I came with my girlfriends, and this is so much more fun than just going out for lunch on a Sunday afternoon. One of my friends had introduced us to this, and we ended up spending two hours here without even realising it. It’s something so different and creative.”

Adding perspective to the experience was workshop curator Vatsal, who explained the philosophy behind the practice, said, “Kintsugi is essentially Japan’s healing technique. Traditionally, broken ceramic bowls are repaired using natural materials mixed with gold dust because they are meant to be used again. Here, we use planters — participants break them and then fix them using adhesive, creating something beautiful to take home.”

The afternoon served as a reminder that in a fast-paced world, there is quiet magic in pausing, creating and connecting — not just with others, but with the idea that imperfections, too, can be transformed into something meaningful.