(from Wabi-Sabi by Leonard Koren)
wabi refers to
- a way of life, a spiritual path
- the inward, the subjective
- a philosophical construct
- spatial events
sabi refers to
- material objects
- the outward. the objective
- an aesthetic ideal
- temporal events
characteristics of wabi-sabi:
primarily expressed in the private domain
implies an intuitive worldview
relative
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, vague shapes and edges)
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
warm
generally dark and dim
function and utility are not so important
perfect immateriality is an ideal
to every thing there is a season