The red of the postbox, the black of the telephone: the aesthetics of waiting
Red of the Post, Black of the Telephone | The Aesthetics of Waiting
Introduction: Memorizing landscapes through color
In the Showa era, there were red postboxes and black telephones on street corners.
It wasn't just a tool, it was a landscape.
The red of the mailbox is the color that conveys feelings for someone.
The black of the telephone is the color of waiting for someone to speak.
Nowadays, with just a smartphone, everything arrives instantly.
But back then, waiting was a part of everyday life.
And it was that "waiting time" that deeply stained my memory.
Red in the mailbox: the margins of letters
The post stood alone in a corner of town.
A red iron box. Below the slot, there is a small sign with the collection time written on it.
The red was a color that stood out, but also somehow nostalgic and gentle.
Writing a letter was a time-consuming act.
Choose the letter paper, choose the words, put it in an envelope, and affix a stamp.
And before dropping it in the post, there is a ritual called "arranging your thoughts."
The red of the post was both the destination and the starting point of such rituals.
The time it takes to reach someone.
That "space before it arrives" increases the value of the letter.
Black on the Phone: The Weight of the Voice
The black telephone was placed in a corner of the house.
The receiver is heavy and you have to turn the dial with your fingers.
The numbers return with a "beep...click" sound.
Each and every note was a preparation to connect with someone.
The telephone is a tool for voice only.
I can't see his face or expression.
That's why the temperature of the voice and the timing were everything.
"Can I talk now?"
Is this silence anger?
With that in mind, I chose my words carefully.
The weight of the black phone was the weight of the voice.
And the hesitation before making the phone call was a way to politely maintain a certain distance from the person.
The aesthetics of waiting
Both post and telephone were based on the premise that you had to wait.
The letter takes a few days to arrive.
When you make a phone call, it takes time for the other person to answer.
And if no one answers, you just have to call back later.
That "waiting time" is now a lost feeling.
In today's world where immediacy is required, waiting is considered an "inconvenience."
But there is an aesthetic to waiting.
It's a time to think about the other person.
It's time to organize your words.
It's a time to enjoy the time until it arrives.
Memory of Color: A Dialogue Between Red and Black
Red for the post and black for the phone.
These two colors were the most memorable on the streets of the Showa era.
Red is an outward color.
Black is a color that turns inward.
Red is the color that conveys feelings.
Black is the color that accepts feelings.
Where these two colors intersect, there are relationships between people.
It was a dialogue through different media: letters and voice.
WABISUKE Reconstruction: Space of Color and White Space
The space and words of WABISUKE
It can house this "memory of red and black."
For example, vermilion noren curtains and ink-colored walls.
It becomes part of the landscape, welcoming and quietly enveloping someone.
Also, the words in the blog are written like a letter,
We value the "space" that exists before something reaches someone's heart.
Colours evoke memories.
And memory creates space.
This blank space is the aesthetic of WABISUKE.
This is a part that resonates with the Showa era scenery.
Conclusion: A landscape with a postbox and a telephone
If you see a red postbox right now...
I might want to write a letter.
And if only I could hold the receiver of a black telephone.
You might want to wait quietly for someone to speak.
Red for the post, black for the phone.
It is the aesthetics of waiting,
It was a color used to respectfully maintain distance between people.
And that scene is still somewhere,
Quietly waiting for us.