Wabi-Sabi no Kokoro
The Story Behind the Artwork
Wabi-Sabi no Kokoro translates to ‘The Heart of Wabi-Sabi’, a Japanese philosophy that finds beauty in imperfection and authenticity. The gold floral details draw inspiration from Kingtsugi, the Japanese practice of repairing broken ceramics with gold lacquer. Kingtsu highlights damage, transforming evidence of breakage into part of an objects history. This resonated in the painting, every brushstrokes, adjustment and imperfection became part of the piece.
Visual elements
The textured brushstrokes echo the handmade spirit of wabi-sabi, allowing imperfections to remain visible. Light is used architecturally across the figure's back, while the soft neutral background draws from the calm minimalism of Japanese interiors and the use of negative space creating a feeling of stillness. The muted background references the calm simplicity.
The softness of the palette contrasts with the richness of the patterned kimono. The gold detailing within the kimono subtly references kintsugi, symbolising beauty shaped through experience over perfection. The gold floral detailing has been built up using textured paste, creating raised areas that catch light and cast subtle shadows. The philosophy celebrates the beauty of handmade objects and the texture within the flowers serves as a reminder that this piece was made slowly, by hand. The imperfections, ridges and variations are evidence of the creative process itself.