Wabi-sabi for artists, designers, poets & philosophers

by Leonard Koren

Paperback, 2008

Publication

Point Reyes, California : Imperfect Publishing, c2008. Originally published: Berkeley, Calif. : Stone Bridge Press, 1994. 94 pages : illustrations ; 22 cm.

Call number

Aesthetics / Koren

Barcode

BK-07331

ISBN

9780981484600

Original publication date

1994

Physical description

94 p.; 22 cm

Description

"Wabi-sabi is the most conspicuous and characteristic feature of what we think of as traditional Japanese beauty. It occupies roughly the same position in the Japanese pantheon of aesthetic values as do the Greek ideals of beauty and perfection in the West . . . Wabi-sabi, in its purest, most idealized form, is precisely about the delicate traces, the faint evidence, at the borders of nothingness . . . Author Leonard Koren was trained as an architect but never built anything-except an eccentric Japanese tea house-because he found large, permanent objects too philosophically vexing to design. Instead he created WET: The Magazine of Gourmet Bathing , one of the premier avant-garde magazines of the 1970s. Subsequently Koren has produced unusual books about design- and aesthetics-related subjects. Koren resides in both America and Japan."--Publisher's description.… (more)

Language

Original language

English

User reviews

LibraryThing member RajivC
My second reading!

I started the book, read a chapter and put it away for the night. Then, last night I read another chapter, and woke up in the middle of the night to read some more.
Finally, I woke up early morning to finish it

While I read it fast, it is a delightfully captivating work. It is one
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that speaks to the soul, and is one that is very relevant to todays times. When we are all chasing shiny 'perfection', a little bit of dirt, imperfection, nature allows us to feel the spirit of nature and of art.

Timely indeed. Leaves much room for thought and reflection.

And, it is pithy. You cannot gabble on about such concepts. They are truly to be internalised.
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LibraryThing member SaraPrindiville
Interesting topic I had never heard of previously, however, it seems to describe some of my personal philosophy. It is appropriate that I read it directly after Thoreau who also writes of the beauty of simplicity and natural objects.
LibraryThing member chriszodrow
One to read again and again.
LibraryThing member misericordia
A very thin book that explains the concept of Wabi-Sabi. This is a great book to give you a new perspective. Maybe you don't want to internalize the concepts here, but you should try to use them as a method of seeing the world in a new light. If you don't like that view go back to your old view.
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However, Wabi-Sabi seems to me, like and more substainable view and aesthetic.
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LibraryThing member Muscogulus
This pleasant book is an essay on a Japanese aesthetic concept, wabi-sabi, and its associated ethical precepts. The accompanying photos also try to convey the essence of the indefinable wabi-sabi.
LibraryThing member RajivC
I started the book, read a chapter and put it away for the night. Then, last night I read another chapter, and woke up in the middle of the night to read some more.
Finally, I woke up early morning to finish it

While I read it fast, it is a delightfully captivating work. It is one that speaks to the
Show More
soul, and is one that is very relevant to todays times. When we are all chasing shiny 'perfection', a little bit of dirt, imperfection, nature allows us to feel the spirit of nature and of art.

Timely indeed. Leaves much room for thought and reflection.

And, it is pithy. You cannot gabble on about such concepts. They are truly to be internalised.
Show Less
LibraryThing member fiberguildreno
Beautiful book on Japanese design. It shows many types of craft with pictures and discussion. The section o fabric covers clothing, traditional and contemporary, rugs and furniture, furoshiki, kumihimo braids, and even sandals.

Rating

½ (120 ratings; 3.9)
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