Shoji: theme and variation
Comments: 7
By now I’m starting to see the endless possibilities for organic-shape-on-shoji-grid theme and variation, and starting to get the hang of how shoji work. The impromptu arrangements of twigs and leaves and berries that my wife has been leaving around the place have helped.
Like many things elemental in Japan, they work in two different directions at the same time (which sounds cliché but it really does happen). Not to think about it too much, but as objects are silhouetted against the light coming through, there’s a sense of something being projected in, a graphic flattening but expressed through light, like a movie. As in a theatre, the interior of the room becomes a little more hermetic and you get the first activation of the great Japanese dichotomy of uchi and soto.
At the same time, this two-dimensionality creates the effect of a kind of membrane, and since membranes by definition rely on two or more spaces or collections of matter divided, your attention is never really released from a consideration of what’s beyond, of what’s outside. The full activation of uchi/soto is complete, not to attribute too great a mechanismo to what’s ultimately a deft and subtle aesthetic experience.
In fact the very lightness with which this happens, the warmth of the materials — wood, paper, straw mats — and craftsmanship that enables these things to engage the consciousness are responsible to a large degree for the sense that houses are living things. By bringing our minds into play, they animate themselves.
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Posted to Photographs • 2005.10.16 (Sun) • 12:28
Comments
Posted by Keith Fox 2005.10.17, 01:18
Your photographs are so inspiring to a budding photographer such as myself. I hope someday I can produce images as beautiful. Interestingly, your photos also give me ideas on how to arrange my living space. I would like my place to be minimalist yet warm, and take advantage of whatever natural light comes in.
Posted by quaisi 2005.10.17, 13:22
I like the curve of the long branch.
Posted by Serdar Kilic 2005.10.19, 12:58
Jeremy, do you soften the photos or apply any Photoshopping (if that’s what its called) to touch up the photos? What kind of camera do you use?
Posted by Robert 2005.10.22, 07:35
The images are great… it makes me think of my favorite time of day - twilight - when everything becomes 2-D. I wish I could have that in my house all the time!
Posted by Bookie 2005.10.23, 09:54
This definitely gives me the urge to see more, but at the same time I wouldn’t want to ruin that feeling with a third dimension. This photo is a real eyetrap.
Posted by John Beale 2005.11.01, 02:14
Nice image… I see somethink japanian …it makes me relax =)
Posted by Ste_Rose 2005.11.05, 18:49
Very nice image… depression… melancholy…
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