|
Introducing Wabi-Sabi for Artists, Designers, Poets & Philosophers by Leonard Koren This small yet profound book, written by Leonard Koren in 1994, has become one of the most influential introductions to the Japanese aesthetic of wabi-sabi in the Western world. It is not a how-to manual or a historical treatise, but rather a poetic exploration of a worldview that values impermanence, imperfection, and simplicity. Koren, trained as an architect and designer, was also the founder of WET: The Magazine of Gourmet Bathing—an avant-garde publication in the 1970s that merged art, culture, and eccentric philosophy. His lifelong interest in design, Zen practice, and aesthetics led him to distill the essence of wabi-sabi into a form accessible to artists and thinkers outside Japan. What makes this book particularly useful for our circle is its clarity and brevity. In fewer than 100 pages, Koren articulates the metaphysical basis, spiritual values, states of mind, moral precepts, and material qualities of wabi-sabi in a way that resonates across artistic disciplines. The book is as much a meditation as it is a description. Its spare language and thoughtful organization mirror the very principles it conveys. For the Enso Circle, Wabi-Sabi for Artists, Designers, Poets & Philosophers provides both a theme and a guide for this term: a reminder that our work need not strive for perfection, but for authenticity; that beauty can be found in the weathered, the incomplete, and the humble; and that our practice itself is part of the great cycle of change and renewal. |
Wabi-Sabi: A Six-Session Journey
|
A Small Project for the Circle
The Book of Wabi-Sabi Project For this term, the Continuing Residents will be working with Leonard Koren’s Wabi-Sabi for Artists, Designers, Poets & Philosophers as both theme and guide. Instead of adding pressure to “make beautiful things,” this project invites them to discover beauty in the ordinary, the imperfect, and the transient. Each week we’ll highlight one of the book’s core principles — impermanence, simplicity, attention, modesty, material qualities, and integration. Residents will be asked to observe their daily lives through this lens and capture one photograph that reflects the weekly theme. They will post their photos, along with a short note, in a dedicated Slack channel. This gentle practice will encourage mindfulness, help Residents see with fresh eyes, and deepen their sense of authenticity in whatever they are already creating in their studios. It is meant to be both challenging and relaxing, offering an extra layer of reflection alongside their main studio goals. At the end of the term, we will gather all the photos and reflections into a collaborative project: The Book of Wabi-Sabi —a collective meditation on how beauty emerges through impermanence, imperfection, and simplicity. This approach gives us a tangible outcome while staying true to the Enso Circle spirit: honoring process, presence, and discovery over product.
|
|
Website designed by Lyn Belisle
All content © Michelle Belto and Lyn Belisle, The Enso Circle, 2021-2025 |