The West has been influenced by Eastern aesthetics since 1853 opening of Japan Right: Mary Cassatt's The Letter (1891) Left: Yoshitoshi's Cooling off at Shijō, from the series One hundred aspects of the moon (1885) Wabi: connected to Shinto religion, original religion of Japan, 3rd century
The Grand shrine of Ise is considered the most important Shinto shrine. It is surrounded by 127 smaller shrines and continues to be built every 20 years using same materials and traditional methods as a way to continue that legacy. Sabi: mono no aware
Yugen: linked to Buddhist teachings
Junichiro Tanizaki 1933 In Praise of Shadows - wildly read in Japan, a pop culture figure
ReflectionI remembered a lot of the details of this lecture from a similar one from 2018 on Japanese aesthetics. I specifically recalled the information about the principles of wabi and sabi because I think these ideas really resonated with me. As someone who identifies closely with perfectionism and the desire for a polished, finished artwork, I highly respect people who can look at a piece of art that is frustratingly crooked or incomplete and appreciate it as it stands. I found this notion -- that artworks which are not complete could be even more valuable than artwork which has been crafted with painstaking attention to detail -- especially frustrating; it feels like an insult to people who put time and effort into making their craft flawless. I guess that's the whole point, though; as yugen means, life is better spent appreciating the moment as it comes, rather than always thinking about the moment that has yet to come. When you really care about being present for the process of creating an artwork, I guess the finished product doesn't seem like the end-all be-all anymore. I think that's a valuable lesson; but, honestly, I don't know if I'd ever be able to fully ascribe to this way of thinking. I am goal-oriented, motivated by a vision I have of myself -- whether that be in art, school, or any other aspect of my life. While I understand there are drawbacks to this mentality, I also feel it has helped me succeed and maintain a good work ethic because of my internal drive. I would fear that if I were to try to incorporate wabi, sabi, and yugen into my work, I would lose that drive that keeps me on top of things. I guess, though, the whole point is balance: balance in being present in the moment and having a clear vision to work towards; balance in appreciating imperfections but also having a sense of pride in my work; balance in appreciating life as it comes and goes. I understand why individuals within Western art culture were inspired by Japanese aesthetics; their values are simple and humble, but the end result is a sense of contentment and satisfaction you are unlikely to achieve elsewhere. Plus, just the style itself with the flat shapes and the cherry blossoms is peaceful.
Overall, I enjoyed the lecture. I think I will apply it to my current works, using the principles of wabi, sabi, and yugen to center my mind when I feel I am too hyper-focused on perfectionism or not appreciating the process of art-making itself.
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