The Sustainability of Wabi-Sabi Aesthetics in Ceramic Design

Abstract

Since 2018, wabi-sabi has grown in popularity and has been embraced by a growing number of artists and designers in the ceramic arts who have developed their own artistic styles based on this aesthetic. In contrast to the characteristics of ‘perfection’, ‘luxury’, and ‘sophistication’ advocated by consumerism, the aesthetic style of wabi-sabi seeks to reclaim the poetry that has been lost in the electronic media age. Against this background, this study discusses the sustainability of wabi-sabi aesthetics in ceramic design. Based on a theoretical understanding of sustainable product design, the authors answer how wabi-sabi aesthetics can contribute to the sustainability of ceramic design through the aesthetic attributes of seven sustainable products. This study aims to develop knowledge of ceramic design from the perspective of sustainability applications. Examining ceramics with wabi-sabi aesthetic attributes from a sustainable design perspective can help potential designers understand the application of the aesthetic attributes of sustainability in ceramic products and re-evaluate the design and development value of ceramics.