Back in 2020, basketball fans got a real treat – not just in the game but also in the reminder of sport’s healing powers. Victor Solomon, an artist who is both an artist and an athlete, brought an ancient Japanese art to South LA by fixing a broken basketball court through Kintsugi.
Table of Contents
The Healing Art: Gold-Dusted Resin
Kintsugi Court: A Symbol of Resilience
The Golden Touch: A Gilded Court
What is Kintsugi?
Kintsugi literally means ‘golden joinery’ and is the art of repairing broken pottery with gold. But in Solomon’s hands, it means something else entirely. Instead of just fixing a broken basketball court, he’s embracing its imperfections and highlighting the wear and tear by filling the cracks in the cement with gold-dust resin. This isn’t a repair, it’s a celebration of resilience and healing aligning with the principles of this ancient art technique.
The Healing Art: Gold-Dusted Resin
Solomon’s approach is not just about aesthetics. He sees the court as a place to play basketball but also as a symbol of recovery and growth. “I wanted to highlight the healing process,” he says. “The cracks in the cement represent the wear of time but also the strength that comes through those experiences. The healing becomes part of the journey not something to hide.” By filling the cracks with gold, Solomon turns the court into a visual reminder that healing doesn’t erase scars – it makes them part of the story.
Kintsugi Court: A Symbol of Resilience
The project is called Kintsugi Court for a reason. It’s not just a surface level art installation. It’s a statement about how sport at its core has the power to heal. Sport can entertain, inspire, distract us from life’s challenges but more than anything it offers a platform for recovery. Whether it’s a physical injury, emotional struggle or just the wear and tear of life the court is a reminder that healing isn’t about perfection – it’s about embracing what’s broken and using it to move forward.
The Golden Touch: A Gilded Court
To top it off Solomon’s gilded court has golden backboards and hoops to match. The gold shines bright, symbolizing strength, transformation and renewal and asks players to reflect on the journey of resilience every time they step on the court.
A Metaphor for Life and Sport
In a city like LA where basketball courts are community hubs and places of competition and camaraderie Solomon’s Kintsugi Court is a powerful metaphor. It’s not just about playing a game; it’s about finding strength in the cracks in sport and in life. And as the world continues to face challenges there’s no better reminder that like a broken basketball court we too can heal, rebuild and shine brighter than before.
