Kintsugi is the ancient Japanese art of repairing broken ceramic objects by using gold lacquer to mend the cracks, celebrating imperfections and fractures as a precious part of their history. In the same way, this photographic project was created to celebrate the resilience and strength of women who have faced tumors and subsequent surgeries that drastically altered their bodies and sense of identity—such as the breasts, uterus, abdomen, and other parts.

Through the art of embroidery, each woman who participated in the project first created compositions that represented their personal sources of support to hold onto during their oncological journey. They then posed in front of the camera wearing those very same creations exactly over the area where the surgery had occurred.

In this way, scars that tell stories of pain and rebirth were embellished with beads, flowers, and fine fabrics, transforming these marks of battle into delicate yet powerful works of art. Each shot captures a metamorphosis: the embroidered and adorned wounds become symbols of life and nourishment, carrying a beauty that speaks of lived experiences and bodies that have found new strength.

This embroidery is also a rediscovery of an ancient tradition, the collective ritual of when women would gather to weave and share, intertwining not only threads but also bonds, stories, and mutual support. The adorned wounds are fragments of identity and memory, becoming a treasured part of each woman’s story, just like the women who wear them: proud, united, and authentic.