The Beauty of Utility - The Brilliance of Nameless Handicrafts Discovered by Soetsu Yanagi
"Beauty of Utility" - The Brilliance of Nameless Handicrafts Discovered by Soetsu Yanagi
Beauty is not born from someone's fame.
It is something that is nurtured quietly and selflessly in the course of everyday life.
What Yanagi Soetsu discovered was the power of this "nameless beauty."
The Unknown Craftsman: Art without a Hero
Yanagi Muneyoshi coined the term "Mingei" in Japan in the 1920s.
It is a movement that celebrates the beauty that resides in everyday items made by ordinary people.
What caught his attention was the painstaking handiwork of unknown artisans.
“Art Without Heroes”──
Yanagi believed that art without heroes is what gives birth to true beauty.
It's not the face or name of the brand,
The idea is that beauty lies in the "use" of the product, which fits comfortably in the user's hand.
Beauty of Use - Beauty that is perfected through use
The core of Yanagi's aesthetic is "beauty of utility."
Vessels, cloth, and tools made to be used, not just appreciated.
They come to life through use,
It quietly shines in your daily life.
This idea is also consistent with WABISUKE's philosophy.
It's not just beautiful,
Something that is completed by being touched, used, and lived with.
That is the "living beauty" we aim for.
Faith and Beauty: A Buddhist Perspective
Yanagi Soetsu believed that beauty and religion were deeply connected.
The beauty of these vessels, made with such pure heart, is a blessing from the Buddha.
He explained that it was a manifestation of "other power."
This idea is also connected to Rikyu's "wabi-sabi"
Respect for the invisible,
It cultivates an appreciation for the nameless.
A question from Yanagi Muneyoshi: Where is beauty?
Yanagi Muneyoshi continued to ask questions throughout his life.
"What is beauty?"
"Where does beauty come from?"
The answer is not luxurious decoration or fame,
It was in my daily life.
Nameless vessels, well-worn cloth,
And in the handiwork that is made with care.
WABISUKE is also searching for such "quiet beauty."
Something that can be conveyed without words.
Beyond names, beyond times,
Something that gently touches people's hearts.
Borrowing the gaze of Yanagi Muneyoshi,
We want to continue to look at the beauty that cannot be seen.