Wabi Sabi – Embracing Imperfection
In a world that often glorifies the pristine and the perfect, the Japanese concept of wabi-sabi offers a much-needed respite, guiding us to find beauty in the imperfect, the transient, and the natural. An aesthetic philosophy that has its roots in Zen Buddhism, wabi-sabi encourages an appreciation f
True Harmony – Cangshan Villa Photographed by Jonathan Leijonhufvud
You can obviously approach architecture in many different ways. I often think those people who are attracted to the engineering side of things are fascinated by the structure and how the construction comes together. Not knocking this way of thinking, but I feel contemporary architecture has put so m
Walls of Solace – Architectural Photography Captured by Mia Delcasino
Our ability to be altered by any art form is always intriguing. Connecting the viewer to their senses, body, and mind. American artist James Turrell has been a house favourite here thanks to his skill at using light and space to alter the way we perceive the world. Architect Tadao Ando is also speci
Wabi Sabi – Top 5 Books for Inspiration
Photographed by Mark Robinson inside Junichiro Tanazaki’s Home in Kobe, Japan Intro The word ‘Wabi Sabi’ has become synonymous with ‘rustic’ or ‘imperfection’. Ask any Japanese person to explain this set of words and you’re most likely to receive a bla
Masking Functional with Sculptural – Ceramics by Noe Kuremoto
For many the idea of working on one form on a consistent basis is seen as quite tedious and fairly boring. It’s been a psychological idea that I’ve been toying with for quite a while now. Reading a book many times over. Going over a simple idea each day for an extended period of time. [&
Wa – The Essence of Japanese Design Book Now Available in OEN Shop
A beautiful book that focuses on everyday objects and interior design elements, 250 to be exact that help examine the intricacies of Japanese design and craft.
From Hot Glass to Vase – GUM Series by Marion Fortat
Marion Fortat has integrated an unpredictable element in to her working process with this series titled 'GUM', vases that are formed and then disfigured in the construction phase.
Functional Ceramics by Potter Hyejeong Kim
Modern and simple, classical forms with minimal decoration. Much of the aesthetic and functional elements take inspiration from Hyejeong Kim's Korean and Japanese upbringing.
Japanese & Oriental Art at Hotoke Antiques
A selection of beautiful bowls and antiques from a shop called Hotoke, located in Isumi, Japan. Their website yesterday offered a great amount of inspiration, particularly on the ceramic side of things, but I was also interested in the other objects that had cultural significance to the orients. Thi
Vessels & More at Higashiya Shop
A rather enticing selection of vessels at Japanese store Higashiya, who seem to have quite a variety in their online shop. All these different categories of inspiration can sometimes be overwhelming, but it's something that I think both of us here have adapted to. This blog is the perfect place to s
Functional Ceramics by Daisuke Kameta
Maybe we've gone a bit pottery made over here?! It seems like it's taken the reigns slightly and has grabbed hold of us, although to be fair I do feel like we're doing a pretty good job at keeping the blog well balanced and unique. Especially this week with Daniel including some nice culture type f
Shop Imagery by H Works in Japan
My latest explorations revolve around a trio of books that I purchased delving into the art of the tea ceremony in Japan and the concept of life over there in general. One particular book that has gripped me over the past few days was written by Junichiro Tanizaki titled ‘in praise of shadows’,
