Thanks to a Victor Jacoby Award, I was able to fulfill a long-time dream to study the Japanese aesthetic philosophy of Wabi Sabi in Japan. Commonly used in our Western world as a design gimmick, and worse erroneously compared to “rustic styles”, Wabi Sabi is a philosophical and spiritual reflection on life, recognizing that beauty in the purest form is found in the ephemeral, the imperfect, and the traces and scars from the passage of time. The observation of this beauty allows me to reflect on and appreciate the fleeting nature of life itself.

My creative process was fueled by daily morning walks and bicycle rides through the countryside near the residency. Purposefully, I observed natural and manmade materials that showed signs of decay, damage, or weathering. I focused my gaze on uncovering the infinite array of patterns, compositions, and color combinations that naturally occur but often go unnoticed. Not only did I marvel at these sights, but I also felt a growing sense of empathy towards these surfaces, recognizing them as mirrors of our own vulnerability to time.