Impermanence, Imperfection and Mindfulness

‘Nothing lasts, nothing is finished and nothing is perfect’ sums up the Japanese aesthetic of Wabi-Sabi, centred on transience and imperfection. The study of oil and water interactions chimes well with this idea of impermanence and flawed beauty.

In this series I have subverted the normal practice of using oil drops floating on water. Here I have used, counterintuitively, water drops floating in oil.

The individual drops enjoy only a short existence. They are also in constant change, slowly moving and morphing before dramatically disappearing by merging into a greater whole.

The careful, mindful crafting of these intentional temporary arrangements demands focussed concentration and presence. The entire process therefore serves as meditation in action rather than simply a means to an artistic end.

The choice to use coloured water drops enhances the visual appeal by creating additional colour contrasts and harmonies.

Complex geometric arrangements are possible which may resemble a corona, a flower, a snowflake or jewellery for example.

The enormous number of possible permutations of design and colour ensures that the project is likely always to be incomplete.

Removal of blemishes refines the aesthetic but the patterns retain natural imperfections (e.g. drops not identical, symmetry not exact etc).