While on a visit to the island of Miyajima, a short boat ride from Hiroshima, I set foot in the temple grounds of Daisho-in and photographed the unique 500 Rakan Statues that reside here.
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Natural Objects in a Space – A Visit to Ryoanji Temple in Kyoto, Japan
We visit Ryoanji Temple in the north of Kyoto, an inspiring location that’s most famous for its minimalist zen garden, featuring fifteen stones in an abstract composition.
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Timeless Appeal – A Visit to Katsura Rikyu Imperial Villa in Kyoto, Japan
Continuing our series of adventures from Japan is a visit to Katsura Rikyu, or Katsura Imperial Villa, in Kyoto, Japan. We were able to photograph the gardens and surround property one morning.
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Vessel, Pattern & Empty Space – Paintings by Japanese Artist Miwa Ogasawara
Miwa Ogasawara, a Japanese artist who now resides in Hamburg, Germany paints these beautiful canvases with pure simplicity and charm, drawing on the idea of ’emptiness’.
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Setting Stones – Karesansui by American Photographer Bob Cornelis
Inspired by an early text on Japanese gardening where “creating a garden” is referred to as “setting stones”, Bob Cornelis has mimicked this with a set of geometric objects.
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Shizuka (Cleanse) – Photographs by Masao Yamamoto
Using Lao-tzu as inspiration, Japanese photographer Masao Yamamoto looks to represent noises that humans are not capable of hearing.
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Zen Gardens & Outdoor Spaces by Photographer Bruno Suet
Bruno Suet’s photography is an intriguing look at how we as humans find ourselves designing both interior and exterior spaces.
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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.
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Calligraphy by Japanese Artist Sen
This short film and photography captures the making process of talented Japanese calligrapher Sen (aka Rinka Obitsu), who’s attempting to perfect her calligraphy through a piece titled “Prayer”.
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Souls of Zen – Buddhism, Ancestors, and the 2011 Tsunami in Japan
I’m not the sort to discuss movies that require payment, I tend to have a preference towards films that are free for all to view. No matter your background or financial situation we can all take something from the experience. But like everything in life, we do have to support these creatives and give them some compensation for all their hard work and time. In fact, I’m not against support …
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One Shot. One Life. by Empty Mind Films
I try to bring you a mixture of content here on the website, things that are slightly offbeat for our specific theme, but have an interesting story/concept. I especially enjoy ideas that can be pulled across as inspiration, this post today takes on a spiritual vibe but I feel it can be applied to design in specific ways, also life in general. Shockingly I haven’t come across the Empty Mind Films website before, somehow I’ve never even …
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Japanese Gardens by Michael W. Veith
Gardens can be thought provoking in many ways. I love the multiple layers, this could be water, plants, trees, rocks and stones, sculpture could also play a big part in how an outdoor area is shaped. I think a well designed garden can play with all your senses, especially if there’s fruit or plants in the garden that are edible. Although I don’t have any particular experience with garden design, I have a real admiration for the work as the basis for it is …
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