Splendor and Simplicity: An Introduction to Japanese Artistic Style

Splendor and Simplicity: An Introduction to Japanese Artistic Style

Japanese art does not have one single style or sensibility. Over the centuries, it has acquired multiple aesthetic facets that varied according to the taste of its patrons who included members of the imperial court, Zen tea masters, and wealthy samurai warriors.

The most well known Japanese aesthetic is wabi, an austere, rustic beauty apparent in objects made with simple forms and unpolished natural materials. Closely related is sabi, a beauty that comes with age and long, loving use. Objects attributed with sabi become more attractive over time, as colors fade and patina forms on the surface. These two aesthetics developed within the context of the tea ceremony, which bears the influence of Shinto, an indigenous tradition with a deep reverence for nature, and Zen Buddhism, with its emphasis on austerity, humility and spontaneity. Miyabi refers to a refined, elegant beauty that has long been associated with the sophisticated taste of Japan’s imperial court. Traditionally, miyabi-style objects would be displayed in the homes of aristocrats, reflecting their wealth and high social status. Kabi, a bolder, more sumptuous aesthetic, best reflects the taste of powerful military rulers, wealthy merchants, and European collectors. It can be described alternately as gorgeous or as gaudy, depending on one’s own taste. Asobi, or playfulness, is apparent in the whimsical shapes, quirky styles, and comical subject matter found in much Japanese art. This artistic mood is found in multiple art forms, often in combination with the aesthetic sensibilities noted above.

We invite you to take some time, look closely at the works on display in this exhibition, and decide how you would describe them, as wabi, sabi, miyabi, kabi, or asobi?

8 September 2006 to 1 April 2007