CONTEXT OF PRACTICE

Manchester Art Gallery - Japanese Design Exhibition 

I had looked into Japanese aesthetics, though it was different seeing that theory/ideology applied to practical work. Having been aware of the basis of the theory and looking at the works exhibited, I could see the influence (it was kind of like walking into IKEA, though I wasn't sure if most of the furniture/clothes are actually functional)

Tatsuya Nakamura 
Haine Yasume table
(2004)

Sori Yanagi
Manufactured by Vitra
Butterfly stools (1954)

• What I noticed is that, not only does pure aesthetics inform the artists' works, but also the intent and function. There were various chairs, lampshade, vases -designs intended to serve a purpose (furnitures, for the people). 

• Though it made me wonder if creative practitioners could create products that are purely based on aesthetics? Could it effectively communicate meaning/intent? Could it be functional/useful? If not, what is its worth?

Yohji Yamamoto
Man's Coat 
(1985-90)

Recurring themes

Nature

Shadow and light

Subversive materials

Deconstruction

(breaking away from conventionally completed look, asymmetrical)

Line and pattern 

Junichiro Tanizaki wrote an essay on aesthetics,  In Praise of Shadows (1933): "We find beauty not in the thing itself but in the patterns of shadows, light and the darkness, that one thing against another creates...were it not for shadows, there would be no beauty" 

• It made me think that as Buddhism significantly informs Japanese aesthetics, what about Western aesthetics? I am pretty sure it would be different (well duh. what am I saying?). I would like to further look into social/cultural, historical and philosophical connections to aesthetics. 

• Thinking back to my own practice/work, perhaps right now I have been quite fixated on what they would call 'internet' aesthetics or the current generation's mainstream trend (faux-nostalgia, internetism, vapourwave). 

• Looking at other things made me want to further explore what aesthetics really mean and its purpose/function in design. Why it exists? International aesthetics (if that is even a thing)? Not only in terms of how it looks as a whole, but in more detail such as the materials, colours etc.