(If you haven’t already… suss their sleek new home by Axel Vervoordt here). Their house isn’t exactly humble, however, it is somewhat surprising to see they have rejected having ‘things’ in the pursuit of wabi-sabi. Kim and Kanye are the most influential celebrity couple of our time (love them or hate them) and they have bought wabi-sabi to the mainstream, by showing the world how they live in an entirely bone coloured house, void of decoration (other than some exquisite Japanese ceramic pieces – raw ceramic ‘rocks’ and vessels by Yuji Ueda) and an unbleached grand piano (a Steinway no less). Simplicity, purity and restraint are values that are an antidote to our fast, frenzied consumerism, and the scrolling social media spiral in which many of us live. ‘It’s the celebration of beauty in humble things’ Let’s just let that sink in for a minute. This beautiful ornate shogun design by Mohamed Marei artfully uses a balance of LEGO Technic and System parts. It’s the opposite of what most people want, which is something that looks expensive but is cheap,’ Axel chuckles.Īxel’s greatest inspiration is the spirit of zen monks in Japan, who sought contentment in simplicity, purity and restraint. His stunning book Wabi Inspirations, features his own Westernised version of wabi features, including peeling paint, bare boards, distressed plaster walls, and muted colours. This Belgian architect is known for his intensely pared back design approach, and has long been inspired by Eastern philosophies. You might be surprised to know that even Kanye West (!) has been influenced by Japan throughout his career – firstly with collaborations with Takashi Murakami and recently with his brand new ‘minimal monastery’ house designed by Axel Vervoordt. This got me thinking about the paradox between how we imagine stereotypical Japanese minimalism, and then what you actually encounter when visiting Japan: a 100 yen store on every street corner, or at least a sublimely tasteful Muji! It seems to me that the Japanese appreciate minimal spaces, but also love to consume. I’m very much drawn to more eclectic Japanese spaces, that are layered with texture, plants and meaningful objects. While Japan might be recognised for ‘zen’ minimalism – think pristine spaces and glass elements that make up a house by SANAA or the bare concrete made famous by Tadao Ando – there are so many diverse Japanese interiors that I wouldn’t necessarily describe as minimalist. This feature won’t delve into what ‘true’ Japanese design is, but rather, will touch on the ways Japanese style has influenced a whole range of aesthetics globally. I am an interior designer, not a Japanese design expert, but like a lot of us, I’ve visited this magical country, and I found it to be instantly captivating on so many levels. April 30 to June 20, 2016.From Belgium to California, and right here in Australia, Japanese design has made a big impression.
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