Wabi-sabi is a Japanese aesthetic concept that has fascinated many Westerners who have tried to encapsulate its meaning in a neat definition. I have delved into its meaning as I learn more about Japan as I explore the country and culture in my photographs. Levels going down to the dry stone garden in Keninji, Kyoto. In Japan, the concept is well recognised, but I think Japanese people are comfortable with a more vague and ambiguous notion of what it means. The ideas and definition of wabi-sabi have changed over the centuries and continue to evolve. Literal translations are not useful, and as far as I know, you can't look the word up in the Japanese dictionary. The closest literal translation you can probably get is something like 'humble simplicity'. Based on what I have read, here are some of the key concepts that seem consistent and inform my vision of what wabi-sabi means: Impermanence - everything is in a state of continual change. Nothing remains the same. Imperfectio...
This blog is about Paul Indigo's views on life and photography.