Shibui

“Shibui”

Series: Ishikawa Tani

Date: 2008

Dimensions: 74”x 49”x 6”

Materials: Cast glass, basswood, copper, rice paper.

In James A. Michener’s book Iberia the word ‘shibui’ is referenced as follows:

“The Japanese have a word which summarizes all the best in Japanese life, yet it has no explanation and cannot be translated. It is the word shibui, and the best approximation to its meaning is ‘acerbic good taste'”.

Another attempt to define the concept of shibui refers to a made object that is beautiful by being precisely what it was meant to be and not elaborated upon.

The grid, expressed in so many elements of traditional Japanese architecture and in thousands of incarnations in textile design, inspired this, the first piece in the series.