"Kintsugi" by Todd Carroll
Kintsugi
Todd Carroll
Artist Statement:
BEYOND REPAIR: a state of the union
Inspired by the Japanese art of Kintsugi, where broken pottery is repaired with lacquer mixed with powdered gold, this photographic series explores the concept of highlighting imperfections rather than concealing them. I was drawn to its philosophy while examining the imagery of the American flag—a symbol now seen as fractured and worn.
Each day, subway commuters are transported through the city, their journeys underscored by the rhythmic movement of the trains. The American flag is present as a sticker on each subway car, serving as a visual state of the union. Most are battered and marked by time and the city’s relentless grit. These symbols endure, evolve, or deteriorate amid the ceaseless pace of urban life. This series is a meditation on national identity and the visible and invisible scars that define it.
Todd Carroll
