This is a series of workshops designed by Azumi Uchitani to explore Japanese culture through the art of calligraphy and language. We will meet bi-weekly, slowly moving from season to season and uncovering new characters, rituals, concepts and beliefs deeply rooted in Japanese lifestyle. Each event we will centre around a new symbol: we will learn its meaning, discuss a poem about it, meditate and experience the power of the concept through calligraphy practice.
Sabi: sabu/ j-aku (寂)
Sabi is another Japanese aesthetic concept that is closely related to wabi, but with a greater emphasis on the beauty of ageing and decay. Sabi values the patina and weathering that comes with time and use, whether it be on a building, a piece of furniture, or a work of art. It is often associated with the idea of impermanence and the passage of time. Sabi also emphasises the beauty of simplicity, but in a way that is more rugged and weathered. It is not just about finding beauty in the natural materials themselves, but also in their history and the stories they tell. Sabi encourages individuals to appreciate the beauty of things that have been around for a long time and to see its natural state and scars as a source of character and beauty.
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