Simple in appearance, yet complex in execution, Sun Tunnels is a philosophical reflection on time and the cycle of nature. This talk will explore the different facets of this artwork to help us to rethink our modern conceptions ‘progress’ and ‘time’.
Sabi is another Japanese aesthetic concept that is closely related to wabi, but with a greater emphasis on the beauty of ageing and decay. Join our next calligraphy session and learn about idea of Sabi in Japanese culture.
This session will discuss Byung-Chul Han’s views. Han is one of the most prominent South Korean-born philosophers and cultural theorists. In his works, Han explores the late capitalist culture in its various facets, including concepts such as freedom, the internet, mental health, popular culture, religion, sexuality, social media, subjectivity, technology, and transparency.
Wabi-sabi concept offers to embrace imperfections and appreciate simplicity, natural state and deeper meanings in them. Wabi-sabi teaches us to accept what is not under our control, to strive for excellence rather than perfection, to appreciate failures and flaws, to live simple and slow down our pace. Join Azumi Uchitani in the conversation about Japanese ideas of wabi-sabi and what ‘beautiful’ means.
This talk explores recent scientific advances on biological processes underlying the observation of body movements, gestures, postures, and expressions and their consequences for our aesthetic experience of – and empathy towards – art that depicts human figures.
The late 19th century gave birth to the symbolist movement. In rebellion against scientific empiricism (seeing is believing) that had become a dominant school of thought, the symbolists favoured what could not been seen: dreams, fantasies and the imagination.
Every summer Japan celebrates a festival, Obon, to commemorate ancestors, whose spirits are believed to return to this world in order to visit their relatives. It is believed that memorial ceremonies not only help people to pay their respect to spirits of deceased relatives but also serve as healing rituals helping families and communities to process their grief and disturbing memories.
People feel the urge to share on social media the happiest moments and the saddest circumstances of their lives, their successes and their failures, and they do so constantly. Often, this has dramatic social and psychological repercussions (anxiety, depression, and solitude) as well as historical and political consequences (elections, democracy, and the role of
truth(s) in society).
Japanese culture is naturally among the ones to look up to when we think about patience and tranquillity. It is a sign of maturity to stay patient and control feelings when facing the unpredictable. Join our Japanese calligraphy session dedicated to the concept of Patience.
Zen Buddhism brought an idea of ‘beginner’s mind’ (shoshin) which means one looks at every situation as if it’s the first time he sees it. Beginner’s mind (or a mindset) allows us to approach everything with an attitude of openness, constant learning and a lack of preconceptions.
