Modernism and Wabi Sabi: An Art Historical Perspective. (A young modernist's point of view - yay!)

*It may be argued that all the absolutes offered with regard to Modernism do not do the topic justice and present it in a very negative manner.

*Wabi Sabi presents Modernism as the sort of more 'evil' counter-part of wabi sabi

*Leisa Rundquist, an associate professor here at UNC-Asheville with a phd from Chapel Hill said, "It (modernism) may be that, but it's so much more than that; it's multifaceted." 

It's versatile and adaptable:)

Taking a look back at wabi sabi.  Leonard Koren presents to us: http://outsiderjapan.pbwiki.com/Wabi+Sabi

FYI: With regard to Modernism, Wikipedia says - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modernism

*wabi sabi relating to 'PRIMITIVE ART'

-page 20: "Wabi-sabi does share some characteristics with what we commonly call 'primitive art,' that is objects that are earthy, simple, unpretentious, and fashioned out natural materials. Unlike primitive art, though, wabi-sabi almost never is used representationally or symbolically."

 

-in an Art Historical defense of wabi-sabi, this comparison to the idea of the 'primitive' sheds very negative light on wabi-sabi; wabi-sabi is a peaceful and simple lifestyle which brings intimacy.

 

"This idea of the ‘primitive’ provides a molding which is (during modernism) a relationship showing the contrast of a twofold opposition to what Westerners - at the time - saw as civilized; when comprehended fully, one sees the ‘primitive’ as what it actually is - an ideological construct of colonial conquest and exploitation. In the modern world, the West furthered their power by simply constructing this idea, seeing many cultures other than their own as ‘primitive’." ~Dichotomy Now - Holland, 2007

 

-Wabi-sabi was written in 1994 and time has passed, but . . . "A realization has come to people in some small circles that cultures have been and are being alienated and, also, grouped together when terms like ‘primitive’ are far too broad and general to be anywhere close to being politically correct. ( . . . ) Still, with ‘primitivism’, there is dichotomy - now." ~Dichotomy Now

 

-However, Koren does state that usually it's not to be taken symbolically or representationally but the correlation to the 'primitive' does not do the true wabi-sabi justice.

 

-works reflecting the idea of 'Primitive':

 

Picasso's 1907 Les Demoiselle d'Avignon - oil on canvas

 

 

 

Paul Gauguin's 1892 Spirit of the Dead Watching - oil on burlap

 

 

 

 *Koren does state: "'Modernism' is another slippery term that cuts a wide swath across art and design history, attitudes, and philosophy. Here we will describe 'middle' modernism, the kind of modernism embodied in most of the pieces of the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York."

*Consider this table and think not about Modern Art but just the academy of art and the setting of the museum.  What do you consider 'high art'?  Perhaps this is another way to explain how Koren was contrasting Modernism and wabi-sabi.  Is it not just the restriction which contrasts wabi-sabi.  Modernism may be more similar to wabi-sabi than Koren suggests.

*Also consider the fact that the ending period of Modernism is open to debate.

*"Arising from Modernism come many other movements which all tend to reject past values but at the same time appropriate art of the past. Within Modernism artists like Édouard Manet, Paul Gauguin, Georgia O’Keeffe, and Jackson Pollock personified varying movements within this changing time span. The idea of the Avant-garde of the Modern World (translates literally into "before the troops") places itself within each of these four artists as they all aim for progress with presumptions of originality and a certain opposition to the dominant order which hinders not only their own individuality, but that of all in society." ~Anything but Stagnant - Holland, 2007

*"BOTH ARE STRONG REACTIONS AGAINST THE DOMINATE" ~Koren

Jackson Pollock's Number 1 - 1948

*Consider the picture in Wabi-sabi on page 56 with relation to this piece (tree from strange perspective).

*"In Number 1 there is violence, incongruity, and discordance that presents a record of all of Pollock’s movement on the canvas. Here a certain striving for flatness becomes apparent but at the same time an optical depth arises. While grand master paintings of the past had transcended time, Pollock’s work does nothing of the sort. A sense of automatism degenerates from Surrealism as spontaneity is embraced with intellectual control. Pollock was very conscious in his work but was attempting to tap into the unconscious." ~Anything but Stagnant

**So -- it's not the works from Modernism that contradict wabi-sabi but rather the atmosphere in which they are placed.  It's not so much that Modern Art goes against wabi-sabi as it is the way in which Modern Art is displayed.  As something that can not be and should not be touched.  Perhaps the high academies have ruined true art.

*Watch this slide show video on the MoMA (Museum of Modern Art) and take careful consideration of the atmosphere of the museum shown.  Museums in general (as shown here) are not done simply as things wabi-sabi are.  Also, the song that is being sung throughout the video, what does it reflect? Something wabi-sabi, Modern, or neither?

and this is just really cool...a lil wabi-sabi?