Singapore Web DesignerWabi Sabi — Zen Principles of Aesthetics » AEN—Designer & Consultant

Wabi-sabi (in Kanji: 侘寂) represents a comprehensive Japanese world view or aesthetic centred on the acceptance of transience. The phrase comes from the two words wabi and sabi. The aesthetic is sometimes described as one of beauty that is “imperfect, impermanent, and incomplete” (according to Leonard Koren in his book Wabi-Sabi: for Artists, Designers, Poets and Philosophers). It is a concept derived from the Buddhist assertion of the Three marks of existence — Anicca, or in Japanese, 無常 (mujyou), impermanence.

Quoted from Wikipedia.

Back in 2003, I used to design aquariums for myself and friends with aquatic plants. You can call it aquarium gardening or more accurately aquascaping. In Japan, these artistically crafted aquascapes are called “Nature Aquariums” and they are usually designed based on Zen principles. One of the tanks I designed during the time was 遠 山 (enzan) based on 三尊石組 (sanzon iwazumi) or three rock arrangement. Even till today, my creative thought process still revolves around these principles, like the use of earthly and neutral colors, irregulars arrangement and layouts, odd numbers and minimalistic simplicity which much of my style is based on.

THE PRINCIPLES

FUKINSEI (imbalanced)
Asymetry, odd numbers, irregularity, unevenness, imbalance is used as a denial of perfection as perfection and symetry does not occur in nature.

KANSO (simple)
Elimination of ornate and things of simplicity by nature expresses their truthfulness. Neat, frank and uncomplicated.

KOKOU (austere)
Basic, weathered bare essentials that are aged and unsensuous. Evokes sternness, forbidence, maturity and weight.

SHIZEN (natural)
Raw, natural and unforced creativity without pretence. True naturalness is to negate the naive and accidental.

YUGEN (subtle profound)
Suggest and not reveal layers of meaning hidden within. Invisible to the casual eye and avoiding the obvious.

DATSUZOKU (unworldly)
Transcendence of conventional and traditional. Free from the bondage of laws and restrictions. True creativity.

SEIJAKU (calm)
Silence and tranquility, blissful solitude. Absence of disturbance and noise from one’s mind, body and surroundings.