On the wabi-sabi side of things. A tribute to the beauty of random imperfection

Wabi-sabi (侘寂) is a Japanese world view which is centered on imperfection and the passing of time. A kind of beauty that’s incomplete and elusive, yet fund­a­mental. The concept is based on the ­Buddhist ­teaching of the three marks of existence: impermanence, suffering and emptiness. Characteristic for its aesthetic is asymmetry, roughness and simplicity – and a recognition of all natural objects and processes. The ­“wabi-sabi way of seeing” is central to the Swedish-­based street photographer, ­Jesper Blomqvist. His interest in the plainness of reality can be found in all of his recent works. The Buddhist ­concept therefore gives us viewers a possible map of ­interpretation to his pictures. Presented in this catalogue is a series of close-ups from the inside of dumpsters. It’s a follow up to a ­project where Jesper Blomqvist macro-­portrayed another everyday urban object – electrical ­enclosures – which finally became a ­renowned ­exhibition and a book (utan titel, EklundhPaglert förlag, 2012–2013). Both of these photographic series proves how beauty can thrive in the most unexpected places ­– you just have to know what you’re looking for. The pictures in this catalogue is a clear message of this. We hope that you’ll ­enjoy this unconventional docu­mentation ­– a true tribute to the beauty ­of random imperfection.