Wabi-Sabi
for Artists,
Designers,
Poets &
Philosophers
Leonard Koren
Imperfect Publishing
Point Reyes, California
A Comparison
with Modernism
To get a better sense of what wabi-sabi is—
and isn't—it might be helpful to compare and
contrast it with modernism, the dominant
aesthetic sensibility of mid- to late-20thcentury
international industrialized society.
"Modernisnr*' is another slippery term that
cuts a wide swath across art and design
history, attitudes, and philosophy. Here we
will describe "middle" modernism, the kind of
modernism embodied in most of the pieces
of the permanent collection of the Museum of
Modern Art in New York. Middle modernism
includes most of the slick, minimalist
appliances, machines, automobiles, and
gadgets produced since the Second World War.
It also includes concrete, steel, and glass box
buildings of the sort that houses the Museum
of Modern Art itself.
Similarities.
• Both apply to all manner of manmade
objects, spaces, and designs.
• Both are strong reactions against the
dominant, established sensibilities of their
time. Modernism was a radical departure
from 19th-f:entury classicism and eclecticism.
Wabi-sabi was a radical departure from the
Chinese perfection and gorgeousness of the
16th-century and earlier.
• Both eschew any decoration that is not
integral to structure.
• Both are abstract, nonrepresentational ideals
of beauty.
• Both have readily identifiable surface
characteristics. Modernism is seamless,
polished, and smooth. Wabi-sabi is earthy,
imperfect, and variegated.
Differences."
modernism
Primarily expressed
in the public domain
Implies a logical,
rational worldview
wabi-sabi
Primarily expressed
in the private domain
Implies an intuitive
worldview
Absolute Relative
Looks for universal,
prototypical solutions
Mass-produced/
modular
>
Expresses faith in
progress
Future-oriented
Believes in the
control of nature
Romanticizes
technology
People adapting to
machines
Geometric
organization of form
(sharp, precise,
definite shapes
and edges)
Looks for personal,
idiosyncratic solutions
One-of-a-kind/
variable
There is no progress
Present-oriented
Believes in the
fundamental
uncontrollability of
nature
Romanticizes
nature
People adapting to
nature
Organic
organization of form
(soft, vagu^ shapes
and edges)
28
modernisn)
The box as metaphor
(rectilinear, precise,
contained)
Manmade materials
Ostensibly slick
Needs to be
well-maintained
Purity makes its
expression richer
Solicits the reduction
of sensory
information
Is intolerant of
ambiguity and
contradiction
wabi-sabi
The bowl as metaphor
(free shape, open at
top)
Natural materials
Ostensibly crude
Accommodates to
degradation and
attrition
Corrosion and
contamination
make its expression
richer
Solicits the expansion
of sensory
information
Is comfortable with
ambiguity and
contradiction
Cool Warm
Generally light and
bright
Function and utility
are primary values
Perfect materiality
is an ideal
Everlasting
Generally dark and
dim
Function and utility
are not so important
Perfect immateriality
is an ideal
To every thing there
is a season
The Wabi-Sabi Universe
Metaphysical Basis
• Things are either devolving toward,
or evolving from, nothingness
Spiritual Values
• Truth comes from the observation of nature
• "Greatness" exists in the inconspicuous and
overlooked details
• Beauty can be coaxed out of ugliness
State of Mind
• Acceptance of the inevitable
• Appreciation of the cosmic order
Moral Precepts
• Get rid of all that is unnecessary
• Focus on the intrinsic and
ignore material hierarchy
4 I
Material
Qualities
- The
suggestion of
natural process
« Irregular
• Intimate
• Unpretentious
• Earthy
• Murky
• Simple
Wabi-sabi can be called
a "comprehensive"
aesthetic system.
Its world view, or
universe, is selfreferential.
It provides
an integrated approach
to the ultimate nature
of existence
(metaphysics),
sacred knowledge
(spirituality), emotional
well-being (state
of mind), behavior
(morality), and the
look and feel of things
(materiality).^'^ The
more systematic and
clearly defined the
components of an
aesthetic system are—
the more conceptual
handles, the more
ways it refers back
to fundamentals—the
more useful it is.