WABISABI 101

 

Wabisabi is a traditional Japanese aesthetic concept often considered one of the oldest manifestations of minimalism in art. At its simplest, Wabisabi is an aesthetic design ideal that stresses the authentic over the artificial, the worn over the new, and the imperfect over the ideal. Wabi can refer to the imperfections of objects, the simplicity of everyday items that fulfill a function rather than a form. Sabi brings to mind wear and tear that reminds us that nothing lasts forever and that signs of age on an object can help us appreciate its value that much more. After all, both natural and man-made objects experience their own lives as they are created and fall into decay. Appreciating this natural process that confirms the authenticity of existence is what Wabisabi is all about.

 

"PARED DOWN TO ITS BAREST ESSENCE, WABISABI IS THE JAPANESE ART OF FINDING BEAUTY IN IMPERFECTION AND PROFUNDITY IN NATURE, OF ACCEPTING THE NATURAL CYCLE OF GROWTH, DECAY, AND DEATH. IT'S SIMPLE, SLOW, AND UNCLUTTERED - AND IT REVERES AUTHENTICITY ABOVE ALL"

- Tadao Ando, Japanese Architect 

Japanese pottery, image via Pinterest

  

Tea room at Koto-in built by Sen no Rikyu in the Daitokuji Zen Temple

enso by Zen priest Hakuin Ekaku

7 PRINCIPLES

 

Kanso – Simplicity
Funkinsei -Asymmetry
Shibumi – Beauty In The Understated
Shizen – Naturalness
Yugen – Subtle Grace
Datsuzoku – Freedom from habits
Seijaku – Tranquility

 

Wabisabi Art & Design:

 

In the context of art and design, wabi-sabi emphasizes natural materials, simplicity, and a sense of authenticity. Wabi-sabi objects often have a handmade or rustic quality, with visible signs of wear and tear that give them a unique character. The wabi-sabi aesthetic is about finding beauty in the imperfect, and valuing objects that have a sense of history and personality. In recent years, wabi-sabi has become increasingly popular in the world of design, as more people seek to incorporate elements of simplicity, imperfection, and nature into their homes and daily lives.

 

Annabel Kutucu

 

Japanese pottery, 1600-1700

Aged carved wood stool, image via Pinterest

 

Axel Vervoordt

 

A ceramic dish repaired with gold, a Japanese art called kintsugi

CHARACTERSITICS:

  • Raw textures
  • Earthy hues
  • Organic and natural materials
  • Aging - patina, rust
  • Minimal

Chung Chang-Sup, Return 77-A, 1977

Ethan Stebbens

 

Axel Vervoordt

Axel Vervoordt

 

Wabisabi Architecture:

Historically the most common representation of wabi-sabi in architecture is thought to be the tea house. Sen no Rikyū, one of the earliest known tea masters, changed the traditional tea house from opulent and luxurious to a simpler and more balanced design, embracing imperfections. With a simple design and basic construction, the tea house clearly showcases the concept of Wabisabi, with a focus on imperfect materials and the joy of sharing tea with another person. 

 

Ginkakuji, shogun Ashikaga Yoshimasa, 1482

 

 

MATERIALS:

  • Wood
  • Stone
  • Concrete
  • Clay
  • Linen

Japanese Tea Room, image via Pinterest

 

The use of time-worn objects and natural materials is key to attaining that balance and applying the Wabisabi philosophy correctly. Wabisabi interiors are elegant, sparse and imperfect, yet deliver a very modern take on luxury interior design that finds its inspiration in the colors and textures of nature. 

 

 

Yen-Chi Chen

 

Image via Pinterest

NAMES TO KNOW
  • Sen no RikyĹ«
  • Tadao Ando
  • Kengo Kuma
  • Axel Vervoordt

    Image via Pinterest

     

    Mitsuo Matsuoka

     

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