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Open Toolkits

Open Toolkits

OERs composed by MA Contemporary Art Theory Students

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  4. Making Peace with Imperfection: An Artistic Experience of Embracing Your Cracks

Making Peace with Imperfection: An Artistic Experience of Embracing Your Cracks

This is a warm black and white simple line drawing with the words “Embrace your imperfect self” written at the top. In the center of the screen, there are two cartoon characters tightly embracing each other: the smiling character on the right, outlined by solid lines, is gently embracing the self depicted with dotted lines on the left. The dotted character’s head is wrapped in a spiral line symbolizing chaotic thoughts, and its body is covered with patch like marks. The solid line represents our strong side, while the dotted line represents the fragile and sensitive part of our heart. This embrace is the reconciliation we have reached with our imperfections. The entire painting conveys the belief that only when we learn to accept our own chaos and imperfections, and embrace all fragility with warm arms, can life truly be complete.
Reading Time: 6 minutes

Summary

This is a 20-minute conversation with yourself. By performing the two core actions of “tearing” and “mending” with their own hands, learners will experience how to turn the anxiety of perfectionism into a creative acceptance of imperfection. The goal is not to create perfect art, but to embrace a more complete version of yourself. It aims to help learners personally experience that the flaws and scars we fear are precisely the most genuine and powerful unique imprints in life.

Dear friend,
Welcome to this corner of courage and authenticity.
Perhaps you have been trapped by the idea of “must be perfect” for a long time, consuming your inner energy and leaving you without the courage to start so many things; Or maybe you’re just curious about self-exploration. No matter who you are, welcome to join this short journey.
For the next 20 minutes, I invite you to put down that heavy burden of “having to be perfect.” Here, there is no judgment, no standard answer, and no art experience is needed. All you need is a willingness to try and the gentle courage to be kind to yourself.
We will experience together from creation, to bravely tearing, and then to mending with tenderness and purpose. You will find that cracks are not the end, they are where the light begins to enter. And mending isn’t about hiding, but about weaving your story uniquely into the fabric of your life.
This is not an art class. It is a gentle conversation with yourself. Whatever feelings you bring here today, please trust this: all of your feelings are valid, and anything you create is worthy of appreciation. You are already enough, exactly as you are.
Now, find a comfortable position, and let’s begin this journey of Making Peace with Imperfection.

Preparation before starting:

 

This is a tiled map filled with handmade materials, used as an example. It contains: white cardboard, stickers in the shape of stars and hearts, colored paper, sticky notes, colored crayons, colored threads, sequins, colored wool balls, scissors, knives, pearl strings, tape, ribbons, black pens.

Material Preparation © 2025 by Siyu Su is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

1. Find a quiet and undisturbed corner. Come with an open mind, without expecting a specific result.

2. Prepare some creative materials:

        •  A piece of white paper (or any color or type you like)
        •  Drawing tools (a pencil, pen, or crayons)
        •  Basic tools (like scissors, tape, or a needle)
        •  “Mending” materials (anything that inspires you: tape, thread, stickers, fabric; Or even everyday items like old tags or magazine pages)

3. A smartphone or computer (optional, but helpful): You can use it to follow the guide, listen to audio, or take a picture of your final work.

( Don’t worry if you don’t have all the materials. You can also create digitally or simply do this exercise in your imagination.)

 

Part 1: Enter the situation (about 3 minutes)

 

Now, let’s take a moment.

Gently close your eyes.

You might recall a small moment of regret, or a little thing you feel is not “good enough” about yourself;

Or a “small flaw” that you always want to hide.

It doesn’t have to be a big deal, and any feeling that comes up is worthy of your attention.

Then, carrying this feeling with you, slowly open your eyes.

♥ A gentle tip:

At this moment, a piece of calm music can create a safe and immersive space for you, helping to block out external distractions and connect more deeply with your emotions.

You can try searching for “ambient music,” “meditation music,” or “piano music” on music platforms or YouTube, and choose melodies with a gentle rhythm that allow you to breathe naturally.

 

Some recommended soothing tracks:

                 Ryuichi Sakamoto – Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence                         

Johann Pachelbel – Canon

                                                             Dennis Kuo – Track in Time                                                               

 Ludovico Einaudi – Una Mattina

Animenz – secret base (Kimi ga Kureta Mono) – AnoHana (piano ver.)

Please adjust the volume to a soft and comfortable background sound level, letting it gently envelop you.

 

 

Part 2: Create and release (about 11 minutes)

 

Step 1: Just Draw (3 minutes)

This is a hand drawn drawing as an example. At the center of the screen is a large heart drawn with black lines. On the surface of heart, there is a sad face: two round black eyes, long tears hanging from below, and a small downward curved mouth that looks like crying and anxious. Surrounding the heart, several thoughts are handwritten: “It could be better.” “I feel so anxious.” “I’m afraid I’ll let others down.” “It’s so hard to get started.” “Let me check it one more time, just once!” Above the top right of the heart, there is a tangled, messy black scribble, resembling worries knotted together. The entire painting is drawn with a black pen on white paper, which can make people feel the anxious, conflicted, and scared mood.

Simple drawing of patterns © 2025 by Siyu Su is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

 

Now, please pick up your pen and express the emotions you just felt on paper using any lines, shapes, or patterns.

It can be a concrete thing or just some abstract traces.

Please trust your hands.

Whatever you draw, it’s the most authentic version of you at this moment.

Step 2: Gently Tear (1 minute)

 

Pick up your drawing and hold it gently.

Take some time and thank it for carrying your expression.

Then, when you’re ready, take a breath and tear it.

Notice whatever emotion comes up, and allow it to be.

Step 3: Creative Mend (7 minutes)

 

This is a photo of a torn painting that has been repaired. The mended work is placed on the table surrounded by some small colored wool balls, tape rolls, ribbons, scissors, and other handmade materials needed. A crack in the top left of the heart is mended with red tape printed with the word “FRAGILE,” similar to labels used for fragile packages. The middle of the heart is sewn together with colored thread. Star stickers, heart stickers, and small colored wool balls are also used to join fragments, clearly showing the mend traces. The teardrops are filled with strings of pearls and small glitter, suggesting that these tears are precious. There are many other warm details: a white ribbon forms a bow decoration; small colored wool balls and colored paper cover the messy scribble in the top right, creating a firework-like effect; a pink paper strip covers the original “It could be better.” text, now writing “At this moment it is enough!”; a yellow paper strip covers the original “It’s so hard to get started.” on the right, now reading “Done is better than perfect.”; originally unsettling sentences are crossed out and replaced with empowering words like “My worth is defined by me!”; nearby, a handwritten sentence says “Allow yourself to take a deep breath.” The entire work uses various visible mend methods and offers diverse textures to the touch. It conveys a transformation from brokenness to gentle mending, filled with self-care. It’s like an anxious heart being carefully wrapped, comforted, and becoming warm and strong.

Creative Mend © 2025 by Siyu Su is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

Use the materials you have prepared to reassemble and repair the work in any way you want.

You can use tape to bond on the surface;

Sew the fragments together with needle and thread;

Or cover the cracks with stickers.

Of course, you are encouraged to create your own unique way.

Let’s begin mending.
Please remember, our goal is not to restore it to its original state, but to give new meaning and beauty to these cracks.

 

 

Why not hold your mended work up to the light? You might gain a fresh perspective.

 

Part 3: Self awareness and emotional connection (about 6 minutes)

 

1. Listen to your heart (4 minutes):

Quietly watch your mended work, and then gently ask yourself (you can choose 1-2 questions that touch you the most):
  1.  How did my feelings change between the tearing and the mending?
  2. What’s one small detail in this work that surprises me?
  3. If a “perfect” work symbolizes “flawless”, then what kind of “completeness” is this mended work telling me?
  4. What part of my life does this experience remind me of? (for example, how I handle tasks, connect with others, or treat myself).
  5. What different perspectives or attitudes did this experience bring me? How will I bring the wisdom of this repair into my future life?
  6. At this moment, the most I want to say to myself is: _______________________.

 

2. Share your story (2 minutes)

 

Take a photo of your unique work.

You can choose to share your feelings with trusted family or friends and let them witness your courage.

If you don’t want to share it temporarily, please keep the photos in your private album as a tribute to yourself about courage and growth.

 

 

 

At this point in your journey, you have created something unique: 
a mended work of art, and a heart that knows a little better how to be gentle with itself.

Thank you for your courage and sincerity today. 

Hope you carry this wisdom of making peace with imperfection into your everyday life.

May you live a whole and authentic life, in your own rhythm.

Making Peace with Imperfection: An Artistic Experience of Embracing Your Cracks © 2025 by Siyu Su is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

 

(Embrace your imperfect self © 2025 by Siyu Su is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0)

Making Peace with Imperfection: An Artistic Experience of Embracing Your Cracks / Open Toolkits by s2633670 is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

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