The Western world is obsessed with perfection, symmetry, and reverence for exceptional beauties that last. Japanese aesthetics, however, are very different. They derived from what's called wabi-sabi and yugen, which are intimately linked with Buddhism. Wabi-sabi refers to the beauty of the impermanent, the mundane, the imperfect and the somewhat broken. This way of living does not derive from passions for invincibility, youth, and flawlessness, but from respects for what is ephemeral, fragile, and modest. The latter concept, yugen, is the principle of "hidden beauty". It suggests that the signatures of life are not in the ostentatious trappings, but the subtly and profound grace that can only be realized by a quiet mind and a cultivated eye.
I looked at today's theme of art through Japanese aesthetic while being mindful to seek and practice its implications. Although Teamlab's arts are flamboyant, their art embodies Japanese aesthetics and Buddhist philosophy through being a reflection of life's impermanence (showcased through artworks like Flutter of Butterflies Beyond Borders, Ephemeral Life Born from People), the importance of stillness and tranquility (e.g. The Typography of Memories), and the interconnectedness of all things.
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