Leonard Koren's "Wabi-Sabi for Artists, Designers, Poets & Philosophers" explores the Japanese aesthetic concept of wabi-sabi, emphasizing the beauty of imperfection, impermanence, and incompleteness. The book delves into the philosophical underpinnings of wabi-sabi, connecting it to various art forms and design principles. Koren uses numerous examples to illustrate how wabi-sabi can be applied to everyday life, encouraging readers to appreciate the natural beauty of imperfection. The book's accessible style and insightful observations have made it a popular guide for artists, designers, and anyone interested in exploring the concept of wabi-sabi. Its influence extends beyond the realm of aesthetics, impacting how people view beauty and their relationship with the world around them.
Written in 1906, 'The Book of Tea' by Okakura Kakuzo is a classic work that addresses a Western audience, explaining the Japanese tea ceremony and its broader cultural significance. The book delves into topics such as Zen, Taoism, and the secular aspects of tea in Japanese life, highlighting the aesthetic values of simplicity, humility, and the appreciation of the imperfect. Okakura argues that the spirit of the tea ceremony can be applied to various aspects of life, promoting a mindful and thoughtful approach to everyday activities.
For as long as he can remember, Leonard Koren has been searching for beauty and pleasure. Throughout his career, the author and artist—he prefers the term “creator”—has spent considerable time putting to paper expressions and conceptual views that architects, artists, designers, and others have long struggled to find the proper framing of or words for. In 1976, when he launched the counterculture publication WET: The Magazine of Gourmet Bathing, he ushered in the idea of “gourmet bathing,” which has maintained a potent cultural niche in the nearly 50 years since. With Wabi-Sabi for Artists, Designers, Poets & Philosophers, published in 1994, Koren introduced the Japanese expression for “beautiful, imperfect, and impermanent” to the West, where it quickly took on a life of its own. Perhaps one of Koren’s greatest talents is his rare ability to translate philosophical meditations on seemingly esoteric subjects into accessible, approachable texts about ways of being, seeing, thinking, making, and feeling.
On the episode, Koren details his best—and worst—baths, and explains why he views his life as one long aesthetic experience.
Special thanks to our Season 11 presenting sponsor, L’École, School of Jewelry Arts.
Show notes:
Leonard Koren
[4:01] “Undesigning the Bath”
[7:30] Century Tower
[7:30] 7132 Hotel (Therme Vals)
[9:26] “WET: The Magazine of Gourmet Bathing”
[9:26] Max Palevsky
[9:26] Craig Elwood
[13:32] “From ‘WET’ to ‘Wabi-Sabi’: Leonard Koren’s Adventurous Aesthetic Journey”
[13:32] Mick Jagger
[13:32] Richard Gere
[13:32] Debbie Harry
[17:09] Charlie Haas
[18:25] “The Slow Lane”
[18:25] Pilar Viladas
[21:49] “How to Take a Japanese Bath”
[21:49] “Wabi-Sabi for Artists, Designers, Poets & Philosophers”
[21:49] “Wabi-Sabi: Further Thoughts”
[28:23] Okakura Kakuzō’s “The Book of Tea”
[31:38] Glenn Adamson
[31:38] Sen no Rikyū
[39:29] “Noise Reduction: A 10-Minute Meditation for Quieting the Mind”
[42:32] “The Haggler’s Handbook”
[44:22] “283 Useful Ideas from Japan”
[46:56] “The Flower Shop”
[46:56] Blumenkraft
[46:56] “On Creating Things Aesthetic”
[46:56] “Which “Aesthetics” Do You Mean?”
Time Sensitive 
