Assemble Space

Like most ceramicists, artist Daisy Cooper is no stranger to the odd piece of broken pottery. After ten years of crafting beautiful handmade pieces, she set off on a journey to find a sustainable way to mend those cracked cups and broken plates, falling in love with the tactile nature of Kintsugi on the way. A lifelong crafter, she set up Assemble Space, and now spends her days in her North London studio, teaching budding artists how to work with pottery and Kintsugi techniques to create the ceramic pieces of their dreams.

Is there a particular piece of Kintsugi philosophy you always share with beginners?

To celebrate the beauty in imperfections – I actually feel that this applies to all art forms,  and should be celebrated from beginners to seasoned makers!

What's the most memorable story behind a repair you've seen in one of your Kintsugi classes?

I had a couple visit for a workshop who brought along a broken vase that that had been dropped by the best man on the actual wedding day! They'd kept it in a box, gathering dust, for ten years, and then stumbled across my Kintsugi class and came to repair it. Such a heartfelt story.

Would you say your classes are more quiet and reflective, or chatty and social?

The start of the class is definitely very mediative: everyone really zones into the craft. Depending on the group size, the conversations start flowing after a while and usually centre around art and mending, stories of imperfections and learning new skills.

What kind of group books a Kintsugi workshop most often – friends, couples, solo explorers?

We've had a lot of companies book Kintsugi workshops for a team building event – it's a fantastic way to get your staff together and share a creative experience. Something a bit different from the usual team days!

What's the most common question people ask before they've even picked up a broken piece?

"Will it be usable after i've fixed it?" And the answer is "yes!" The whole ethos behind Kintsugi is to make a piece stronger, and build on the existing story behind it – and to save it from going to landfill, obviously!

What's the most unusual object anyone has ever brought in to repair?

Not really unusual, but we've had some beautiful sculptural pieces brought in by students: handmade ceramics with stunning glazes and craftsmanship.

What would you say to someone who's nervous about trying their first Kintsugi session?

It's a very accessible craft, you don't need to be creative at all to be able to learn the steps! You'll always walk away having learnt something new as well, and you can keep applying those skills to future projects.