MINIMAL MAIL ART

A group for those who enjoy simple mail art.

Wabi-sabi (侘寂).

Lately I've been thinking a lot about the japanese aesthetic of wabi-sabi (侘寂). I feel very attracted to its concept. But what is wabi-sabi? What is your point of view on this matter?

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    Suzanna Anderson

    I picked up The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing by Marie Kondo. I've enjoyed her methods, like handling each object and asking, "Does this spark joy?"I've been organizing my creative space using her methods with great success. Richard Powell, "[w]abi-sabi nurtures all that is authentic by acknowledging three simple realities: nothing lasts, nothing is finished, and nothing is perfect." (Powell, Richard R. (2004). Wabi Sabi Simple. Adams Media. ISBN 1-59337-178-0.) My studio project will not last and will probably never be finished, let alone perfected. 

    Your question made me think of this and my current project, because I've never heard of wabi-sabi before. Thank you for this opportunity to learn about it! 

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      Jan Hodgman

      A point of view
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        Jennifer Jones (JJalltheway)

        I love Richard Powell's quote from Suzanna, "nothing lasts, nothing is finished and nothing is perfect." As I was telling my husband that it seems the essence of wabi-sabi is to mimic nature in it's imperfect perfection he said "wow, nothing....it lasts, it's finished and it's perfect". I think he's onto something.

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