Joyce Lee on thu 29 may 03
In light of recent discussions about Koie's mugs
and other works, do those of you who might know
think that the mugs, at least, are an example of
wabe sabe? I know there was a CM article about
a potter's wabe sabe work ..... and it seemed
that wabe sabe originated as a Japanese
style/aesthetic which has to
do with rotting, decaying, conventionally ugly
pots...... or the Beauty in Ugliness ... or the
beauty of imperfection when the rest of the world
is working to achieve perfection.=20
Question:......... In the latter
case, then if we all attempted to achieve
imperfection or irregularities that are traditionally
considered to be ugly..... would what is now
accepted as Beauty become the essence of wabe
sabe?
I know I'm often attracted to imperfect, irregular,
even Ugly work ..... IF it also exudes strength ...
to me, it is beautiful...... not pretty....... but
beautiful. Pots that have been paddled or
thrown on the floor to create an asymmetrical,
unfinished look ........ those are some of my
own favorites.
Is that wabe sabe?
Joyce
In the Mojave desert where we are paying for the
8 months of wonderful outside living... with just
enough snow (every few years) and occasional
rain to make us feel snug and light the logs in
the fireplace..... must admit, one fireplace is now
5 years old and has never been lit.
Wes Rolley on fri 30 may 03
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At 06:02 PM 5/29/03 -0700, you wrote:
>I know there was a CM article about
>a potter's wabe sabe work ..... and it seemed
>that wabe sabe originated as a Japanese
> style/aesthetic which has to
>do with rotting, decaying, conventionally ugly
>pots...... or the Beauty in Ugliness ... or the
>beauty of imperfection when the rest of the world
>is working to achieve perfection.
This is a general Western mis-conception of wabi sabi.
I have even seen a museum gift shop selling slightly altered bowls glazed=20
in brilliant glossy colors and using the name wabi sabi.
My personal view is the one should not attempt to create anything in this=20
manner. We just make what we want to make and, if it is our nature, then=20
the pots will have that character. When I have seen pots that were=20
intentionally made to fit that definition, they were about as close to the=
=20
true measure as a carbon trap glaze is to the original shino.
Much of what westerners think of as wabi sabi focuses on the ideas of=20
incompleteness. In the excellent reference provided by Jennifer, Koren=20
also states the following characteristics.
"It is a beauty of things modest and humble.
It is a beauty of things unconventional.
Wabi-sabi is a nature-based aesthetic paradigm that restores a measure of=20
sanity and proportion to the art of living."
My first hint of what the aesthetic really felt like (as opposed to what it=
=20
meant) came when I went to an exhibit of tea wares at the Nezu Museum in=20
Tokyo. The day was cloudy, a bit chilly. I approached the Museum through=
=20
its garden and was stopped by a single branch of Japanese Maple extending=
=20
over a rock (maybe it was a bench), the only branch which had begun to show=
=20
its autumnal coloring, and slightly brightened by an extra bit of light=20
from a sun that was not quite breaking through the clouds.
I had mixed feelings about not having a camera.
Wes
"I find I have a great lot to learn =96 or unlearn. I seem to know far too=
=20
much and this knowledge obscures the really significant facts, but I am=20
getting on." -- Charles Rennie Mackintosh
Wesley C. Rolley
17211 Quail Court
Morgan Hill, CA 95037
wrolley@charter.net
(408)778-3024
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