This is what I understood, reading a few books about wabisabi or the tea ceremony and asking a friend who practiced the tea ceremony. In the tea ceremony too, they change utensils, interior decoration (flower arrangement or kakemono) or pastry to eat with tea, closely following the evolution of seasons, to feel the instant fully and to be in harmony with nature. We appreciate their beauty all the more because they don’t last.Īs a philosophy, wabisabi teaches you to live the present instant fully, a kind of carpe diem though not in an epicurean sense of the term, and find contentment in what you have, as nothing is permanent. You may also know that we Japanese love cherry blossoms. You may know that our crafts are governed by another concept of craftsmanship: they are not perfect – not perfectly round or symmetric – and we can even see the artisan’s fingerprints on the objects. This aesthetic is deeply rooted in our spirit. They tried to discover beauty in simple, imperfect and impermanent things, and this aesthetic has not only influenced all of the artistic domains in Japan but become a kind of philosophy. The tea masters of that time, influenced by Zen philosophy, began to value simple tea wares created by local artisans, instead of very refined and expensive artistic bowls imported from China. Wabisabi is a Japanese aesthetic, born in the tea ceremony around the XV-XVI centuries. Haven’t you ever heard the word wabisabi? It’s in fact extremely difficult to define! but I’ll try to explain it briefly. After Treasure knitting, a book on Nepal and Mongolia including 5 designs from Eri Shimizu, Nomad noos decided to make a more Japanese book, with the theme wabisabi and I was asked if I wanted to take part into it, not only as a technical editor but also as a designer. And in the mean time, I just enjoy smelling some fresh air and feeling the sun on my skin.The time has come for me to talk about this design.įukinsei – My Zen garden – shawl is my first-ever (and last !?) commissioned design. So, I guess I learned to do as foxes do, just being there and see what might happen. Through the years, I learned that an overly fanatical attitude can kill your pleasure. That’s why I bought a camera, to add some extra adventure to my walks. I’ve always been a bit of a thrill seeker and used to get easily bored. As Mick Jagger sings so beautifully: You can’t always get what you want, but you might find you get what you need. And if nothing happens? Well at least you had a good day. But if you manage to take things as they come, by just enjoying the beautiful nature around you, who know what might happen. They know you want something from them, which makes you a potential danger. If you are too eager, an animal will sense that eagerness and will stay alert. Simple as that.The trouble is there’s a contradiction going on when it comes to capturing Zen Foxes: the harder you try, the more you’ll move away from your goal. They smell the fresh air, feel the warmth of the sun on their fur, close their eyes and then it’s a matter of just being there. They don’t spend hours thinking how to live a fulfilling live, they rather spend their time just living it. No need for yoga classes or meditation courses, since relaxing is their second nature. Zen Foxes are fully ‘in the moment’, as if they invented mindfulness themselves. But once that rabbit is consumed, the territory defined and taken care of important things like procreation and upbringing, it’s time to relax…. Of course they have their duties calling as well. Foxes master this comfortable state of being like no other. The pink grasshopper A story about a rare phenomenon called erythrismįor me, the most beautiful animals are happy animals I love them best when they’re totally at ease: free from pain, fear, cold, hunger or any other discomfort, what we humans would probably define as ‘happiness.Starling murmurations A story about swarming behaviour and mental processes.Foxy Faces A story about individuality and personality (among red foxes)Ībout red fox love, grooming and affection.50 Shades of White A story about red foxes in the white snow.A Fox’ Story A story about life and death of a very special red fox.Zen Foxes A story about red foxes and their mindful skills.European Fine-art prints (Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, France, Austria and Switzerland).International Fine-Art Prints (America, Canada, Australia etc).More Snake’s Head Fritillaries / Chess Flowers.More Orthoptera (Grasshoppers, Locusts & Crickets).More Odonata (Dragonflies & damselflies).
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