The evolution of arabesque patterns

The evolution of arabesque patterns

- Millennial design plays with the future

Arabesque pattern.

It's a pattern that most Japanese people have seen at least once. It can be found on furoshiki wrapping cloths, purses, or even the thief's furoshiki that appears in old tales. Many people associate it with a nostalgic and humorous image.

But did you know that this arabesque pattern is actually an evolving design that has been around for over a thousand years?

Patterns that symbolize life

The roots of arabesque can be traced back to the ornamentation of ancient Egypt and Greece.

The sight of vines intertwining and growing without end has come to symbolize the "prosperity of life" and "eternal connections."

It traveled along the Silk Road, passing through China and reaching Japan, where it became popular as a pattern during the Heian and Kamakura periods, and was later adapted for use on kimonos and architectural decorations.

Reinterpretation in Japan

Arabesque, which is deeply rooted in Japan, is not just decoration but is fused with a Japanese sensibility.

The rhythm of the lines continuing infinitely overlaps with the Zen idea of ​​"eternity," and transforms into a pattern that somehow calms the soul.

During the Edo period, it spread to the lives of ordinary people and became a staple in furoshiki and small items.

Arabesque patterns have come to be used to convey wishes that are closely related to daily life, such as "connecting people" and "protecting the home."

Arabesque patterns live in the present

Modern arabesque patterns are not simply "classical patterns."

Redesigned in pop colors, it has also appeared in street fashion and digital art.

Arabesque has a special place in WABISUKE.

While maintaining the traditional shape, the millennium pattern is transformed into a "design that lives in the present" by incorporating cute colors and a modern sensibility.

The arabesque pattern, like a plant, grows branches and leaves to adapt to the times, always showing new expressions.

Arabesque pattern spreading into the future

As the world seeks sustainability, the arabesque pattern, which symbolizes "eternal life," is once again shining brightly.

It is not a revival of tradition, but rather a "continuation of evolution."

Perhaps in the near future, arabesques will become NFT art or decorate the interior of a spaceship.

Doesn't it make your heart leap when you imagine patterns that are over a thousand years old coloring the culture of the future?

Conclusion

The arabesque pattern is not a legacy of the past, but a "living organism that continues to evolve."

Each and every line represents our lifestyle, culture, and hopes for the future.

The small purse in your hand actually carries on a thousand-year-old story.

When you think about it like that, doesn't it make you feel a little proud?