Bryan's previous design gig was working as a concrete artisan for Gore Design Co. Best known for their Erosion Sink, a mimic of water's natural carving through rock. {As seen on the left.}In Bryan's first few weeks of apprenticeship, he learned the new methods of designing and creating concrete.
One afternoon Bryan was creating a counter top, when air pockets formed a distinct design on the surface. Bryan asked his boss, Brandon if he should try to sand the surface smooth. Brandon explained that the beauty of their pieces lie within the imperfections, or Wabi-sabi. No two pieces will ever be the same because of those precious imperfections. That night Bryan came home with a small leaflet-of-a-book containing the ideology of Wabi-sabi.
Wabi-sabi is a Japanese concept of accepting an aesthetic in an imperfect, transience state. The beauty behind the aesthetic is often compared with being incomplete or impermanent. Wabi-sabi beauty is defined as rugged, asymmetrical, modesty, roughness or asperity.
Isn't that absolutely beautiful? I am reminded of my art history days-learning of handsomely commissioned portraits that were painted with the subjects slightly askew. A button missing, a tiny tear in a fine silk gown, a wisp of hair mismanaged. These planned "imperfections" were to give the impression of a natural state of being to the onlooker. Only, that is how life truly exists in nature. We have frizzy hair, our stomachs aren't naturally washboard flat, relationships aren't perpetual truffles and sweetly scented bouquets.
Life is imperfect. I am imperfect. You are imperfect. {All together now.} We are imperfect. And that is the way we were designed. I have had a few weak moments this week where I was extremely perturbed by my own imperfections. I had to stop and remind myself not to curse my own air pockets. Rather to choose to see them in a new light; the cathartic release and relief of Wabi-sabi. Celebrate this ideal within your own existence.
