Wabi Sabi

Wabi Sabi is an intuitive appreciation of a transient beauty in the physical world that reflects the irreversible flow of life in the spiritual world. It is an understated beauty that exists in the modest, rustic, imperfect, or even decayed, an aesthetic sensibility that finds a melancholic beauty in the impermanence of all things.

Whilst the term ‘Wabi’, translated as simple austere beauty, is often paired with ‘Sabi’ in the West to describe an aesthetic concept, the Japanese would more likely refer to ‘Wabi Sabi’ as encapsulating an emotion. ‘Wabi Sabi’ is not limited to a list of physical traits. Instead it might be considered an aesthetic consciousness, finding value in the imperfect and temporary beyond the confines of appearance. In a world that is increasingly homogenised through global retail chains, the air of neglect, the history and the unique character of these streetscapes belies a rare beauty. These images seek to document that which is temporary and to celebrate its beauty in turn. The viewer is invited to consider details and qualities in these sequent scenes that may be inconspicuous, congruent or contrasting, in the knowledge that all is passing.

Photography & Words
Damien Drew