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Many well written pieces but the most resounding quote to me comes from “A Letter To My Korean Friends” (1920) Yanagi's everyday things are things that are produced in Japan's provinces, anonymous works that are mass-produced, but not in factories, often plain and simple even in its designs: pottery, paintings, clothes, statues...objects that are meant to last, yet treated with some respect and affection. They are utilitarian, practical, following certain laws of making yet not being too much of an artist-work. He found them at first in quite cheap prices, before other people caught on with it, and thus managed to gather a nice collection, some of which ended up in the museum I've mentioned. Yanagi was a philosopher, poet, art historian, essay writer for papers and such, besides being a collector and museum starter. It is common knowledge that the mechanisation and commercialisation of industry have resulted in the unending manufacture of poorly made goods. This decline in quality is the result of the excesses of the profit motive, organisational distortions, technical limitations, and much more. Furthermore, the working conditions in factories are oppressive, and workers find their work to be meaningless. Add to this the fact that there are no restrictions on mechanisation, which leads to rampant production of an even lower quality. Overproduction has also produced a greater number of unemployed. No one takes responsibility for this lamentable situation.” Soetsu Yanagi’s unerring eye has influenced generations of makers. His notion of Zen and the art of design continues to inspire all those involved in shaping our everyday world.” —Jasper Morrison, British designer
Was really great to read before going to MONA museum. Yanagi emphasises the appreciation for unsigned artwork & how knowledge of who the creator of an art piece should come last, taking this approach for a change was again really refreshing & fun. These days, personal taste has suffered a decline. Colours have become garish, forms flimsy, and designs hideous. It is only natural that surrounded by such objects, our sense of beauty should be dulled.” For the author, the humble beauty of well made household things is more important than the showy beauty of fine arts, because we encounter it every day. “There is no greater opportunity for appreciating beauty than through its use in our daily lives.” This kind of beauty, and the satisfaction it brings, is accessible to everyone. “Society cannot be proud when a product is available to only a select few” says Yanagi. “Equating the expensive with the beautiful cannot be a point of pride.”Radical and inspiring … Yanagi’s vision puts the connection between heart and hand before the transient and commercial” Long revered as the authority on craftsmanship and Japanese aesthetics, Yanagi devoted his life and writing to defend the value of craft. In an age of feeble and ugly machine-made things, this now-classic book is a call for each of us to deepen our relationship with the objects that surround us. Inspired by the work of the simple artisans Yanagi encountered on his lifelong travels through Japan and Korea, it is a heartfelt defence of modest, honest, handcrafted objects, from traditional teacups to jars to paper. Objects that exemplify the beauty of everyday things.
A close contemplation is crucial, as beauty can be found in minor details. Intelligent design or hidden technical ingenuity that astonishes and we marvel at. We can discover the enduring appeal of simplicity and function. Soetsu Yanagi (1889 – 1961) was a philosopher and art historian who came to specialise in the folk crafts of his native Japan. The Beauty of Everyday Things collects several of his essays into one volume celebrating the simplicity and anonymous artistry of Japanese handicrafts. A Mingei-inspired study might focus on the natural materials used for weaving and dyeing, the tools and looms, the relevant sociocultural context and an intuitive aesthetic appreciation of the works themselves seeking to draw out the Transcendent. Sadly, such a study may be very difficult to undertake given the ongoing Syrian tragedy.There are some interesting bits here, if you're interested in Japanese art (my main goal), but if you're after ruminations on the beauty of everyday things, there's really only three essays here that do what the book promises: What is folk Craft?, The Beauty of Miscellaneous Things, and Seeing and Knowing. Of these, the last is the most interesting, and most quotable. e.g.: Yanagi sets a framework to explore and appreciate the beauty of folk craft through his essays on: Ukioy-e, Otsu-e, Kasuri, Kogin, Bashofu, Washi ... and through which he advocates for a revival of Japanese crafts;