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Product Info
Publisher: Penguin
Author: Soetsu Yanagi
ISBN: 9780241366356
Year: 2019
Format: Paperback
Non fiction, Design
Beauty of Everyday Things
by
Soetsu Yanagi
Beauty of Everyday Things by
Soetsu Yanagi
Reviews
"Yanagi's work is characterized by pure, organic form, an economy of means and material, and an emphasis on beauty in even the most functional and quotidian objects. Over time the designer's work has become, well, timeless"
New York Times Style Magazine
Summary
The daily lives of ordinary people are replete with objects, common things used in commonplace settings. These objects are our constant companions in life. As such, writes Soetsu Yanagi, they should be made with care and built to last, treated with respect and even affection. They should be natural and simple, sturdy and safe - the aesthetic result of wholeheartedly fulfilling utilitarian needs. They should, in short, be things of beauty.
In an age of feeble and ugly machine-made things, these essays call for us to deepen and transform our relationship with the objects that surround us. Inspired by the work of the simple, humble craftsmen Yanagi encountered during his lifelong travels through Japan and Korea, they are an earnest defence of modest, honest, handcrafted things - from traditional teacups to jars to cloth and paper. Objects like these exemplify the enduring appeal of simplicity and function: the beauty of everyday things.