GARMENT
MINIMALISM MIR WACEEQ
MINIMALISM In visual arts,music and other mediums, minimalism is an art movement that began in post World War 2. The term minimalism often colloquially refers to anything that is spare or stripped to its essentials.
Minimalism in visual art generally referred to as “ minimal art”, “literalist art” and “ABC art” emerged in New York in the early 1960s as new and older artists moved towards geometric abstraction; exploring via painting in the cases of Frank Stella, Kenneth Noland and others. In more broad and general sense, one finds European roots of minimalism in the geometric abstractions of painters associated with the Bauhaus, in the works of Kazimir Malevich, Piet Mondrian and other artists associated with the De Stijl movement.
WABI SABI Characteristics of the Wabi Sabi aesthetic include asymmetry, roughness, simplicity, economy, austerity, modesty, intimacy and appreciation of the ingenuous integrity of natural objects and processes. The words Wabi Sabi do not translate easily. Wabi originally referred to the loneliness of living in nature, remote from society; Sabi meant ‘chill’, ‘lean’ or ‘withered’. Wabi now connotes rustic simplicity, freshness or quietness, and can be applied to both natural and human-made objects, or understated elegance. Sabi is beauty or serenity that comes with age when the life of the object and it’s impermanence and evidenced in its patina and wear or in any visible repairs.
ZEN PHILOSOPHY The principles that govern Zen Buddhism cover all dimensions of life, including of course, design and architechture. The temples and gardens representative of Zen Culture in Japan embody the concept of Shibuimi, an elusive, empty term, that nonetheless eludes to the beauty, elegance, imperfection, complexity but also simplicity and the natural state of things. Although aesthetics tastes may vary, most people aspire to elegance and simplicity, two of the hardest attributes to accomplish.
MOODBOARD
Fukinsei: asymmetry, irregularity; Kanso: simplicity; Koko: basic, weathered; Shizen: without pretense, natural; Yugen: subtly profound grace, not obvious; Datsuzoku: unbounded by convention, free; Seijaku: tranquility, silence.
CONCEPT
This garment and the accessories are based on Minimalism and the virtues of Zen Culture. The core values of which are austerity, simplicity, naturalness, subtlety, imperfection, break in routine and stillness. The garment (jumpsuit) is asymmetric in nature, with colors silk grey and white. Nature is full of beauty and harmonious relationships that are asymmetrical yet balanced. I tried to implement the same in my garment. The slippers are simple and not flashy. According to Shibui (a japanese aesthetic) a product should be precise and do what it is meant to do and not elaborated upon. Beautifully minimalist. The earrings are inspired by the enso circle, which is an incomplete circle, symbolising the imperfection is a part of existence.