Thinking beyond binary oppositions
Thinking beyond binary oppositions
— Neither, but something that lives in between —
Every day, we live our lives unconsciously being forced into two choices.
Right or wrong?
Tradition or innovation?
Efficiency or emotion?
Digital or analog?
City or countryside?
However, after working in Kyoto for a long time, I have come to realize that this binary opposition itself does not adequately capture the complexity of reality.
The world is more ambiguous, more rich, and more volatile.
And it is in this fluctuation that the source of creativity lies.
It is precisely this "fluctuation" that WABISUKE values.
Rather than choosing one or the other, it is about capturing the inexpressible presence that exists "between" the intersection of two values.
Here are some tips for cultivating culture.
■ Binary oppositions make thinking "flat"
The structure of binary opposition makes thinking very easy to understand.
It's either black or white.
YES or NO.
The clearer the options, the quicker the decision will be and the less hesitant it will be.
However, in the creative field, this "ease of understanding" can sometimes become a major trap.
for example,
Should we preserve tradition or innovate?
The question is:
The very way this question is posed already limits the possibilities for creativity.
Tradition is, in the first place, a collection of innovations, and innovation can only be born as an extension of tradition.
Although the two seem to be in conflict, they are actually part of the same river.
In other words,
The essence lies not in "either/or," but in "both," or even "neither."
Binary oppositions make the world flat.
However, culture, sensibility, and manufacturing are all inherently three-dimensional, fluctuating over time.
■ Kyoto teaches us the "power of ambiguity"
Kyoto culture is a treasure trove of ideas that transcend binary oppositions.
For example, the tea ceremony.
A tea room is something "out of the ordinary," yet also an extension of "everyday life."
Wabi is both a lack and a fulfillment.
Silence is "empty" yet "full."
In this way, Kyoto culture always lives in the "in-between."
Without deciding on one thing or the other, it remains ambiguous and stands there quietly.
It is this ambiguity that deeply stirs people's hearts.
The purses and fabric accessories that WABISUKE handles are an extension of the same spirit.
"Old yet new"
"Simple yet sophisticated"
"Cute yet dignified"
I always want to create something that embodies that kind of "charm that cannot be explained by binary oppositions."
■ Beyond binary opposition, the world becomes "layered"
When you step outside of binary oppositions, the world suddenly becomes three-dimensional.
Thoughts that were previously flat begin to take on layers.
for example,
Functionality and emotion.
These are generally spoken of as opposing values.
However, in WABISUKE's manufacturing, functionality supports emotion, and emotion deepens functionality.
The sound of a purse opening and closing is both functional and emotional.
The "feel" of fabric is both practical and emotional.
Beyond binary oppositions,
The values overlap in layers and complement each other.
The overlapping gives things depth.
■ The ability to sense the gap fosters culture
Culture is not born from clear answers or correct answers.
Rather, it is in these ambiguous places where no answers are available that the seeds of culture lie hidden.
What WABISUKE values is,
It is the ability to sense the “gap.”
- Between tradition and innovation
- Between practicality and emotion
- Between the individual and society
- Between the past and the future
- Between words and silence
Carefully picking up the minute fluctuations that exist "in between."
This leads to the act of cultivating culture.
Culture doesn't come from strong statements or flashy innovations.
Rather, it grows from a quiet, modest, yet definite "presence."
■ Thinking beyond binary oppositions is a sensibility for the future
Digital and analog.
Global and local.
In the coming age, binary oppositions will become more and more prevalent.
But you don't have to choose between the two.
Rather, it is not choosing that will become the sensibility of the future.
WABISUKE is a brand that translates Kyoto culture into the modern era.
I would like to embody ideas that transcend binary oppositions in both my creations and my writing.
It is not simply moderation or compromise.
It does not deny either one, nor does it lean towards either one.
Standing at the intersection of these two values,
It is about capturing the quiet presence that flows “in between.”
Therein lies a hint for nurturing the culture of the future.
■ Conclusion
Going beyond binary oppositions
Rather than obscuring the world,
To enrich the world.
There are countless gradations between black and white.
The sensitivity to perceive this gradation is
This is a "seed of culture" that WABISUKE will continue to cherish.