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Japanese Carved Family Altar Inori-gumo
Making Philosophy - 2 -
DESIGN
Cloud sculptures have been an indispensable motif in shrines and temples since ancient times. Japanese people have been visiting such shrines and temples since childhood. Even if they are not interested it, they grow up seeing the cultural things and experiencing the atmosphere there. It is hard to find extreme differences in the aesthetic sense that is cultivated based on such a common cultural background, and I think that even cloud's shape, there is a common feeling of good and bad cloud shapes for Japanese people. It is the artisans' design that captures this and reflects it in the form.
View of nature in the form
By the way, the clouds, flowing rivers, and ocean waves often seen in shrine sculptures are mostly expressed by multiple lines, but have you ever felt a sense of life like a living creature in the flow of those lines? I believe this is because people in ancient times saw them as something alive. As the term "eight million gods" suggests, the Japanese ancient people believed that spirits dwelled in various things in the natural world, and they lived their lives with a sense of reverence for them.
In the past and still now
Perhaps our ancestors, who lived in harmony with nature, saw nature as a living thing, as a matter of course. The forms left behind today as sculptures have a sense of life that makes me think so. In Japanese, we incorporate the changing weather and seasonal changes into our daily greetings by saying, "It's a beautiful day" or "It's getting chilly". I think this shows that the view of nature that people's lives are always in harmony with nature is still alive in each of us.
Shape and peacefulness
The reason why the concept and form of inori-gumo is based on this view of nature is because I believe that the place where we put our hands together and give thanks is also the place where our hearts return to in our daily lives. A simple form that respects what has always existed in our hearts. We thought this would bring a sense of peace to the place of prayer.
For more information, click on the article below.
Making Philosophy - 1 -
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CHISELS
Making Philosophy - 3 -
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MATERIAL
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