Wabi-sabi: the beauty of imperfection

wabi-sabithe beauty of imperfection

Wikipedia says: Wabi-sabi (侘寂) represents acomprehensive Japanese world view or aesthetic centered on the acceptance of transience.

Wabi-sabi is to the Japanese what the Greek ideals of beautyand perfection are to the West.

everything is imperfect incompleteimpermanent

the beauty of...characterageweatheringutility ...ugliness

ImperfectionThe impossibility of ideals.

Plato knewthat absoluteperfection isimpossible.

The ideal horse. the ideal horse

The closersomething is to that invisibleideal, the more beautiful it seems.

all things we createhave a degree ofimperfection

With time,imperfections only become more pronounced.

You can lose sight of your goals when you bog down in perfectionism.

my friend Leighshe makes awesome stuff like this.

it was an awesomeprojectI mean, just look at it.

“Hey! These look great! Why didn’t we finish this?”

“Perfection” changes

Perfection then and perfection now

Whoseperfection are we talking about?

Incompleteness Work is never done.

When is a plant “complete?”

There is always something more you can add...

Projects are never truly complete.

ImpermanenceNothing you do or create now will last forever.

Inevitable.

We like to think that we can leave somelasting mark in the Universe.

The Universe trudges ever onwards.

Everything changes.Nothing stays the same.

You are not the same personyou were ten years ago

Don’t expect the solutions of today to work on the problems of tomorrow.

Utility “Dont make something unless it is bothnecessary and useful; but if it is both necessary and useful, dont hesitate to make it beautiful.” —Shaker saying

It must be useful.

True beauty only becomes apparent with use.

The “reality”of a room exists in the empty space within the room.

simplicity, but notminimalism

Wabi-sabi in America Simple beauty in a complex world

You can’tbuy wabi-sabi atPottery Barn.

an acceptance of thenatural order of things

Thank you for watching.

Many thanks to the following people for the use of their beautifulphotos (in order of appearance)... Teahouse by Hirata Yasuyuki http://www.flickr.com/photos/hirata_yasuyuki/ Parthenon by BW Bray http://www.flickr.com/photos/82297261@N00/ Buddha by Jennifer Feuchter http://www.flickr.com/photos/jennerosity/ Kelly Teague http://www.flickr.com/photos/span112/ Statue of Plato by Stacy Lynn Baum http://www.flickr.com/photos/stacylynn/ Greek Horse Statue by Jared Zimmerman http://www.flickr.com/photos/spoinknet/ Arabian Horses by Jan Ingemansen http://www.flickr.com/photos/nomanson/ Dead Pixel by Simon Wicks http://www.flickr.com/photos/lonelycoo/ Chipped Mug by Jürgen Fauth http://www.flickr.com/photos/muckster/ Renaissance Erotica by Oliver Quillia http://www.flickr.com/photos/oliver62/ Lingerie Model by Guillermo http://www.flickr.com/photos/memoflores/ Ill do anything to look like them by bejealousofme http://www.flickr.com/photos/thexbeautyxofxlove/ Winchester Mystery House by Dalvenjah FoxFire http://www.flickr.com/photos/dalvenjah/ STOP! by Annie in Beziers http://www.flickr.com/photos/annieinbeziers/ Gravestones by Tim Duckett http://www.flickr.com/photos/tim_d/ My Egyptian Statue Has No Nose. by Jamie Carter http://www.flickr.com/photos/letsbook/ blossoms by rakka http://www.flickr.com/photos/rakka/ Sony Walkman CD Player by Robert Leverington http://www.flickr.com/photos/roberthl/ tadpole puberty 2 by Dave Campbell http://www.flickr.com/photos/limowreck666/ Stone Tiles by Chris Jackson http://www.flickr.com/photos/abundanceguy/ worn stairs by van Ort http://www.flickr.com/photos/vanort/ pitcher by Steve Mishos http://www.flickr.com/photos/flyzipper/ wabi sabi by fling93 http://www.flickr.com/photos/fling93/ wabi sabi by Sean Ganann http://www.flickr.com/photos/essgee/

find me on Twitter @crowchick

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Wabi-sabi: the beauty of imperfection

by Rachel Nabors on Jan 16, 2011

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Wabi-sabi: the beauty of imperfection — Webinar Transcript