Wabi sabi is the Japanese art of seeing objects that surround us – perfectly imperfect. Materials used for such objects are natural and the interference with the artificial is minimal to nonexistent. Colors of materials are kept untamed and an overall visual harmony creates the feeling of belonging to the place. The human body, perfectly imperfect, is part of the environment and rejoices when surrounded with textures and colours that are close to the feeling of strength, acceptance and love we all seek. A wabi sabi place is a place of acceptance and balance .
The Romanian house that I grew up in had a lot of wabi sabi in it, even though my grandfather did not call it that way. He most certainly did not know about this fancy wording, but knew that everything in his house had to be in harmony: it had to serve a purpose, be made of the best wood you could possibly find in his region and last a lifetime. His big family would come by the house and sit on the chairs, eat at his table, look through his window and drink wine in his cellar. Everything he surrounded himself with had to be crafted to perfection.
*Photo credit: http://turistintaramea.blogspot.com/2019/12/muzeul-satului-valcean.html
I say “crafted” because his focus was more on the strength, the resistance of the object, the mixture of cuts and never about the small dents and imperfections from the surface of the wood. The objects in the house that were more exposed to the eye of the guest were always sculpted according to the local customs and traditions. The “beautifying” of the chairs, tables or kitchen shelves was a compliment to the wood it was made of. Spending extra time on carving the intricate flowers and shapes all in perfect order and size came from the need to enhance its beauty, not hiding its flaws.
*Photo credit: https://www.igloo.ro/carti/cule-casele-fortificate-intre-fala-si-ruina/
The house that I grew up in smelled like freshly cut wood, looked peaceful and elegant in its simplicity and made everyone feel welcomed through its lack of unnecessary sophistication and flauntness . It is because of my grandfather’s rough and strong willed decisions that I learned never to compromise on the quality of anything I surround myself with.
When it comes to Buha, never compromise on the craftsmanship. Never compromise on the materials used. Bring joy through the design and uniqueness.
I find it so fascinating how cultures across the globe relate so much in the essence of who we truly are and our basic design needs. I have always been attracted to the simple, the beautiful, the endurant. It is now that I understand that throughout our existence we seek the intricate to satisfy the need for adventure, but we always find peace in what we know already, what speaks to us. One piece of furniture in your house is there to stay. You want it that way. You never choose a bed and say it will be there for 3 years. The mere existence in your living space imposes so many qualities to that bed. Wabi sabi and the traditional Romanian woodworking is the same expression of beautiful, sublime – the only thing different is the wording used to describe it.