I love the Japanese phrase ‘mono no aware’. ‘Mono’ means ‘thing’ or ‘things’; ‘aware’ means ‘feeling’, and ‘no’ indicates something an object possesses. So mono no aware literally means the intense feeling that objects can evoke in us. The phrase has ancient roots and enshrines the Buddhist idea of ephemerality. In art, it is used to convey a sense of “melancholic beauty, and is thus link to the wabi-sabi idea of embracing beauty in imperfections.
Where can we feel objects that evoke such intense feelings? Within Japan itself, mono no aware is present in a traditional Japanese garden or a traditional tea house, both of which are modestly decorated to encourage deep contemplation. More tangibly, Japanese ceramics, particularly those related to the tea ceremony evoke feelings of intense beauty through their forms (irregular shapes), colors (muted) and textures (rough). Below are five examples of chawans (tea bowls), that to me, evoke a sense of mono no aware beauty that appears timeless.
A black Raku tea bowl or chawan named Ōguro (Great Black) made by Chōjirō, the first head of the Raku family in the 16th century. Designated as an Important Cultural Property, this austere tea bowl is said to be the finest by Chōjirō given its tranquil but almost overpowering presence. Private collection.Red Raku tea bowl named Muichibutsu (Nothing). By Chōjirō (16th century). Collection of the Egawa Museum of Art. Embodying the essence of rustic simplicity associated with the wabi-sabi aesthetic, this red bowl forms a fitting pair with the previous black chawan by Chōjirō.Fujisan (Mount Fuji) sake cup by the contemporary ceramic artist Hideki Yanashita (b 1967). The cup is modeled after a famous chawan (tea bowl) by Hon’ami Koetsu in the 17th century, the original of which is a National Treasure displayed in the Sunritsu Hattori Museum. The beauty of the cup lies in the simplicity of the two-tone color which is formed by the effects of ash depositing on the surface during the process of firing. Personal collection.This modern black and white chawan is elegant in its simplicity. Using just two colors, a striking calligraphic effect is achieved by applying splashes of black glaze against a matte white background. Personal collection.Yakinuki-type black Raku tea bowl by the distinguished ceramicist, Raku Kichizaemon XV, 2012. Collection of National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo. Marrying tradition with modernity, the bowl’s abstract patterns recall Western works of abstract expressionism such as works by the Russian painter, Kazimir Malevich (1879-1935).
