Spurenlese II: Re-pair & Re-use

Our exhibition series presents current research projects in various places around the exhibitions at GRASSI Museum für Völkerkunden zu Leipzig. By exploring materials and dealing with respective production techniques we can generate traces that tell us new stories about the objects.

"Re-pair & Re-use" focusses on the reparation skills of Chinese porcelain kitters. In a wholly restored workshop from Beijing around 1912, tools, materials and good instances of this spectacular handicraft are showcased. Back in the days, you would bring broken or damaged household objects to a kitter. As early as 1666, Jesuit missionary Martinus Martinius described the challenging way kitters drill minuscule holes into inherently fragile porcelain in order to mend them metal rivets so that even hot liquids are kept inside. Being able to reuse the damaged object was the primary aim. Today, restorers try to keep this technique alive.