Wabi Sabi

In traditional Japanese aesthetics, Wabi Sabi means treading lightly on the planet and knowing how to appreciate whatever is encountered, no matter how trifling, whenever it is encountered. Wabi Sabi tells us to stop our preoccupation with success- wealth, power, and luxury - and enjoy the unencumbered life.

All of us can make a small determination and rather than trying to incorporate all the aspects of Wabi Sabi that most people would feel overwhelmed by, commit to focusing on one element of their life that could be guided by the principles of the discipline. I have made a commitment to focus on the utensils and crockery in my home, many of which duplicated, how many bowls does one person need? Each time I break something, I am going to really consider whether it needs replacing? Is there anything else that I could use instead? If I am being truthful and living by those Wabi Sabi standards, the answer is most likely no. Sharing items within your social circle really makes sense particularly if it is something that you do not use often.

The philosophy is very rigid and purist, however many of the fundamental elements are accessible and will certainly help in us recognising how our ego can negatively influence our behaviour. Considering all objects in your life in terms of how they actually serve you and whether their purpose is absolutely necessary or not, can help you recognise just how much stuff we all hoard for egotistical reasons. Of course the key here is having the grace to declutter with this guiding principle at the fore. As a designer I feel incredibly liberated to know that every project I approach does not have to have an outcome if an outcome is not going to be beneficial in terms of service in whatever way that may be. The entire principle humbles you and it makes you realise how as a society how materialistic we are, without realising it we are always striving to have rather than to just be. I do feel that the rudimental principles of the philosophy could really be tapped on and harnessed in more isolated elements. 

I do remember my grandmother’s kitchen being very basic and yet filled with everything she needed; she had one bowl that served many functions, there was nothing pretentious that served no purpose. Although her bowls were clearly old with chips and stains, they would now be probably not even worthy of a place in a charity shop, there was absolutely nothing wrong with them and they were all still very functional. This is a principle that I feel to an extent her generation did live by.

Alternatively, with my twenty first century sensibilities, I do feel the personal value of affording the presence of pleasurable objects and styles in my living space. This does not however, mean that I value trends, recognition of labels and status, but just the medicinal benefits afforded to me personally by the pleasure I get from beautiful design.

AM vs PM