Inmates in Singapore learn to mend broken pottery with gold, Geneco showcases their stories of second chances
If you’ve ever accidentally dropped your favourite mug or had a bowl split into a few pieces, chances are your first instinct was to toss it in the bin.
But there’s a Japanese art form that gives broken pottery a new lease of life. Known as Kintsugi, it involves carefully piecing the fragments back together using lacquer and gold powder, turning what might otherwise be discarded into something beautiful, and perhaps even more meaningful than before.
Rather than hiding the cracks, Kintsugi celebrates them, with each golden line telling a story of resilience and repair.
For inmates in Singapore, this philosophy takes on a deeper meaning through ‘The Journey’, a 14-week programme by local charity Awful Grace that uses Kintsugi to explore rehabilitation, healing, and second chances.
Breaking pottery to learn how to put things back together
What makes the programme particularly interesting is that participants don’t simply receive broken pottery to repair.
They actually make the pieces themselves, with each creation intended for someone significant in their lives.
Source: OGS on YouTube
Source: OGS on YouTube
Then comes what can be a difficult step: deliberately breaking their creations before carefully piecing the fragments back together using Kintsugi techniques.
There’s a deeper meaning behind this seemingly counterintuitive process. Breaking the pottery reflects how past mistakes can damage lives and relationships, while mending the pieces represents the patience and effort needed to put things right.
And just as the lacquer holds the broken pottery together, rebuilding relationships with loved ones takes care, patience, and a willingness to reconnect.
Source: OGS on YouTube
Rebuilding family bonds through Kintsugi
For families affected by incarceration, time apart can mean missed birthdays, family celebrations, and the little everyday moments that most of us take for granted. And even when they’re reunited, picking up where they left off isn’t always easy.
That’s what makes the final stage of ‘The Journey’ especially meaningful.
The programme culminates in a special open visit, where participants have the opportunity to reunite with their families and share their finished Kintsugi creations.
Source: OGS on YouTube
The completed pieces are also displayed in an exhibition, giving participants a chance to showcase their hard work and share the stories behind their creations with their loved ones.
See the Kintsugi creations and the stories behind them
Now, these meaningful creations are getting a chance to reach an even wider audience.
Through electricity retailer Geneco’s ‘Forevermore’ campaign, held in collaboration with the Yellow Ribbon Project, Awful Grace, and Families for Life, Singaporeans will also get to see some of these Kintsugi pieces and learn about the personal stories behind them.
A total of 10 Kintsugi pottery pieces created by individuals with experiences of incarceration will be showcased, each with its own story of resilience and second chances.
You can view the collection on the Forevermore website from now till 31 Dec 2026, or check out the pieces in person at a pop-up outside Wisma Atria from 7 to 20 Dec, open daily from 10am to 10pm.
And if a particular piece catches your eye or its story resonates with you, you can cast a vote for it.
Every vote counts as a pledge towards Geneco’s S$5,000 donation to Awful Grace and S$10,000 donation to Yellow Ribbon Cares, helping to support rehabilitation programmes and families affected by incarceration.
There’ll also be a complimentary photobooth at the pop-up, along with a special wall where visitors can leave photos with their loved ones as a pledge to cherish their family bonds.
So, if you’re heading to Orchard Road this festive season, consider stopping by to see the pottery and discover the personal stories behind each piece. It’s also a simple way to show your support for those working towards a second chance.
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Featured image by MS News and adapted from OGS on YouTube.
