Wabi-Sabi revisited

[pakivotis]

According to Wikipedia: Wabi-sabi represents a comprehensive Japanese world view or

aesthetic centered on the acceptance of transience. The phrase comes from the two words wabi and sabi.

The aesthetic is sometimes described as one of beauty that is "imperfect, impermanent, and

incomplete" (according to Leonard Koren in his book Wabi-Sabi: for Artists, Designers, Poets and

Philosophers). For more please visit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wabi-sabi

 

Recently, Wabi-Sabi has been coined as a term for desribing what is normally rusty surfaces and material

disformity but it goes far beyond that: It has to do with the "participation" of Nature in man-made

sitiations, materials, landscapes etc.

 

I have created a Folder named "Wabi-Sabi" at http://www.photo.net/photodb/folder?folder_id=780105

 

I am not claiming to have achieved the very essence of Wabi-Sabi. This is just a way of initiating

conversation regarding the matter and most importantly getting some expert help.

 

Please post photos or comments regarding the above or directly to the photos in the mentioned folder.

[beauh44]

Thanks for educating me about Wabi-sabi! I'd never heard of it! When I went to the Wikipedia definition I caught the "semantic connection" between the term and rust but for me the more interesting aspect was summed up this way:<P>

 

"if an object or expression (or presumably a photograph) can bring about, within us, a sense of serene melancholy and a spiritual longing, then that object could be said to be wabi-sabi." <P>

 

I would think that a worthwhile and interesting photographic project or endeavor! <P>

 

However, I would also think that any photograph that causes those emotions in one person may have little or no effect at all with others. In other words, I would think it's a very subjective thing to attain "Wabi-sabi".

[pakivotis]

I think Wabi-Sabi is not as subjective as you mention. The reason is in it's definition. In

photography we could say that Wabi-Sabi depicts the incompleteness or the imperfection.

For example, in this photo http://www.photo.net/photo/6600907, I am trying

to show the imperfection of the randomness of cherry blossoms on the water in what is a

rather aesthetically complete picture. In addition, please note the imperfect shape of the

water basin.

[fate_faith_change_chains]

Sounds and looks interesting but I would rather like to be the object of my perception not

perfection nor imperfection but just plain perception of a oneness, without it being a

bounding influence too much in one way or the other, but that's a though one, to let go of

preconcieved ideas and notions, to see order in imperfect randomness and to see

randomness in imperfect order. To see them both as one and the same thing, wich they

are.

[fate_faith_change_chains]

The wabi-sabi link reminded me also a bit of <a href="http://www.miksang.net/

miksang.html">miksang</a> or ' the good eye '. Is miksang the opposite as wabi-sabi or

is it the same thing but viewed from another perspective ?

[jtk]

Westerners frequently try to block perception of reality by applying mystery terms. This is particularly prevalent among Tibetian Buddhism aspirants. Meaningless phrase within meaningless phrase, the final and ultimate meaning only accessible to someone to whom donations are given.

 

The point of Zen, by contrast, is not mysterious. It's to wake people up.

 

One way that's done is with a "kwat."

 

A kwat is a blow. The master strikes a particularly muddled student, often with a stick, to shake him from illusion. It's wordless, pretending no higher concept.

[Brad_]

I prefer to think of wabi-sabi as finding beauty in things imperfect and worn.

[clive1]

According to my Sharp eDictionary, "wabi" means "austere beauty" and "sabi" "elegant simplicity." "Sabi" with a different Chinese character means "rust," which is where the rust connection comes in. "Wabi" with another character means apology, giving wabi-sabi an alternative meaning of "apologetic rust," which I rather prefer.

[phule]

There's a particularly nice group on flickr devoted to this idea. Some images work well while others do not, but overall it's worth visiting from time to time.

 

[jtk]

The naming of things is sometimes the death of them...turning them in the case of photography to cliche'.

 

Looking actively for corrupted or vegetation-consumed subjects seems directly at odds with open awareness, though many of us have found it a rewarding exercise. It's tempting to keep photographing rusted vehicles and old barns, isn't it? I certainly do that kind of thing. I think it can become a repetitive dead-end.

[phule]

There is nothing in photography that is not a cliché. The argument is immediately lost.

[jtk]

Rob.. If you had a thought you would have expressed it.

 

There's earthshaking, non-cliche' photography. We don't see it commonly, perhaps, or blank it out (eg blown-up scenes in Iraq).

 

Some photographers are actually really good, and do orders of magnitude more than seascapes, backs of heads, peeling paint, and tourist images.

 

For example:

 

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.geocities.com/minoltaphotographyw/williameugenesmith-1972-yaesato-with-fish-and-cane-minamata-japan.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.geocities.com/minoltaphotographyw/williameugenesmith.html&h=500&w=345&sz=56&tbnid=_shg1Vpj628sEM:&tbnh=130&tbnw=90&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dminamata%26um%3D1&start=3&sa=X&oi=images&ct=image&cd=3

[phule]

[[if you had a thought you would have expressed it.]]

 

I'm following in your footsteps.

 

[[(eg blown-up scenes in Iraq).]

 

Are you honestly claiming that war photography has not been done before?

 

[[some photographers are actually really good]]

 

This is your opinion, not a fact.

 

The most clichéd part of this is your claim that what interests you in photography is inherently better than what interests someone else. Nothing could be further from the truth.

[twmeyer]

.................<div></div>

[jtk]

Rob, Above, you say "cliche'" applies to all photography.

 

That seems to rest upon odd word usage...you apparently believe the "idea" is demonstrated in all photography. (visit Rob's portfolio..nice: graphics/signage/color)

 

... photos of car bombings in Iraq are "cliches'" to you, and you doubt Eugene Smith's Miyamata image is "good"(fyi that's not war, it's industrial environmental poisoning).

 

Some do deny "good" or "evil" are values, instead considering everything "relative." Recent "waterboarding" news has highlighted that .

 

Interestingly, we see few images of waterboarding. If we saw them, would we remain passive ... everything being relative and all?

 

http://clesnes.blog.lemonde.fr/files/john_moore_getty_1.jpg

http://www.losblogueros.net/mt-weblog/2006/10/tortura_al_estilo_bushcheney.html

 

Rob, I'm suggesting that you formulate and express thoughts, rather than bald assertions.

[pakivotis]

How about this?<div></div>

[pakivotis]

And this:<div></div>

[johnya]

Along with Wabi Sabi, there is another Japanese term called, Mono No Aware, used to describe the awareness of the transience of things and a sadness at their passing. It is tied into the Wabi Sabi philosophy in that it speaks to the sweet sadness of things that dont last. An old decaying bench, that was sat on by two lovers many years ago, who held hands and kissed gently, is beautiful for its many memories it holds.

 

My two favorite books on the subjects are: Wabi-Sabi for Artists, Designers, Poets & Philosophers by Leonard Koren; and Wabi Sabi, the Japanese art of impermanence by Andrew Juniper.

 

I have started a portfolio at photo.net that conveys my understanding of these terms.

 

John (Johny) Alives