According to the Oxford English Dictionary, ‘wabi sabi‘ means: Relating to or designating a Japanese aesthetic or world view characterized by finding beauty in imperfection, impermanence, or simplicity. Also: designating a style, appearance, etc., reflecting this aesthetic.
I truly feel that that is a part of my life as a whole – beauty in imperfection is something I have done through my art practice so many times – my Kintsugi Mama project being a prime example. But my fascination with kintsugi, wabi sabi and the like goes back a long time for me. I have always had a fascination with Japan – and it is on my bucket list of places to visit. Japanese culture is fascinating, and seems to enclose polar opposites in one country, as they seem to live opposite lives – the ultra modern, super crazy city life in Tokyo, and the quiet, balance traditional life in the countryside, connected so closely to the balance of nature. It is the latter that has caught my attention so much over the years, and that has informed my life and art.
All of this led to me wanting to create my very own artist book/junk journal, where I will collect all things Japan – from the packaging on chopsticks (Japanese ones of course), to my attempts at replicating traditional art, patterns, and just beautiful things. As everything, it is a work in progress, but you can see the full flip through (so far) on my YouTube channel, or just watch the video below.
I made this book using various handmade and Japanese papers, including mulberry paper – as well as some papers which came from some of my own experiments using various Japanese dyeing techniques. I hope you enjoy it, and it inspires you to make something inspired by a culture different from your own.
Although this particular artist book is not for sale, I do take commissions, or you can find some of my latest work in my Etsy shop.