…..going to write this post on Friday I sat and thought what would be a good idea for this theme I don’t have any photos I would use and words didn’t seem to come. What was I to do other than procrastinate think of something eventually Maybe add a photo anyway
This is an interesting challenge due to Tina’s opening inviting us into the challenge with “This week it’s all up to you – you get to choose your subject and to share whatever it is about it that you find interesting. Personally, I’ve chosen last week’s introduction to the concept of Wabi-Sabi, particularly as it relates to art and photography, as my topic.“
Wabi-Sabi has me intrigued as my initial though was to just bung up a couple of flowers and say I picked these.
But no, I had to go down a bit of a Wabi-Sabi rabbit hole of discovery. This definition was quite good “Although Wabi-sabi can be hard to define, we can translate its simplified meaning to “rustic simplicity” or “understated elegance” with a focus on a less-is-more mentality, while “taking pleasure in the imperfect”.”
When looking for Wabi-Sabi perhaps “Wabi-sabi is a cracked and glued together ceramic bowl (check the concept of kintsugi); a funnily shaped, home-grown tomato; a dinner created from leftovers; falling cherry blossom; a worn wooden hallway and an elbow patch on your favourite jumper. Therefore, it’s an appreciation of all that is simple, modest and imperfect. Yet, loved deeply.”
So where to from here. Want to find out? Let’s have a go at my interpretation of Wabi-Sabi through a photographers eyes
Wabi-Sabi’s roots lie in Zen Buddhism, which a Chinese twelfth century monk (Eisai) brought to Japan. Zen stresses austerity, communion with nature, and above all, reverence for everyday life as the real path to enlightenment. To reach enlightenment, Zen monks lived ascetic, often isolated lives, and sat for long periods of concentrated meditation.
In Zen philosophy, there are seven aesthetic principles in achieving Wabi-sabi:
Kanso — simplicity
Fukinsei — asymmetry or irregularity
Shibumi — beauty in the understated
Shizen — naturalness without pretension
Yugen — subtle grace
Datsuzoku — freeness
Seijaku — tranquility
Thanks Tina for taking me to Japan and back for a while
A song to listen while reading. It is the early song from my early life
Awaken my love the sun has tried to break through. The distance shrouded trees appear await bird song. I am the mist ready to envelop your senses. Awaken my love love has broken through. The mist has risen my body awaits gentle touch. Awaken my love ’tis early.
There’s a new photo challenge for July from Becky: Blue
The theme for July is ‘blue‘, and as always it is totally up to you how you interpret the square theme but here are my suggestions for how we might stay connected on our square adventures this month.
be a ‘Bolt from the Blue’ – something unexpected or surprising
explore ‘Into the wide blue yonder‘ – sky, sea or maybe a location that is appealingly unknown and mysterious
simply be ‘Blue‘ – whether that’s azure, cobalt, sapphire, cerulean, navy, ultramarine, indigo, or turquoise
and there is an extra challenge for those of you up for it – can you manage to combine two of these, or maybe even all three?
Whatever you decide to do, please remember there is a rule if you want to part of the Square Gang and be sure your squares make into the gallery.
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