Iki, The Art Of Seduction

On Friday night I went to the opening of a pretty exposition in Pordenone. It took place in a concept store, Être, a place you immediately feel comfortable in it. There, Magda Di Siena presented a small collection of pictures portrayed young geisha from the early 50s. The "postcards" were found at an antiquary shop based in Tokyo coming from a private collection of an Okiya, the geisha house.

What a perfect occasion to hear and discuss together starting from the "Structure of the Iki", a well-known work by Shūzō Kuki, one of the most prominent Japanese philosopher of his times.
いき means "seduction", the first art a geisha has to learn.

Knowing Iki is perceiving the fragrance of an entire culture. And maybe it helps us knowing how much 'being' is important for another life. (Shūzō Kuki)

Pics © Moustaches

Japanese Pattern

I do have a crush on repeated geometrical shapes and this is why I adore Japanese ceramic and traditional geometrical fabrics. You can easily understand why I was so thrilled when I found out this small collection of typical motives with a brief description of their names and significances.

My favourite is the Asanoha (麻葉) one that I chose for my beloved bowl bought in London, remember? The name can be translated into "hemp leaves" and it is one of the most popular, frequenty used in women's obi from the Edo period. It is a six diamond-shape pattern arranged in a radial manner identifying itself with the hemp which grows well and so often used for swaddling clothes.

Well, if you don't get enough, here a small extract from a precious digitalized Japanese album collecting more than 100 examples of stencilled textile common patterns from around 1800 -1900. Adorable!

Credits:
1. 2. 3. 4.

One, Two ... TEA {Tieguanyin}

New year, new column! As I am a real coffee-hater, I let my affection for green tea to inspire me starting a virtual journey across some varieties I filled my beloved tin boxes with!
I have written about Japanese green tea before and you already know I am more devoted to the ritual in itself than to the property of the infused green leaves. That's the reason why I always have my tea-break starting from the choice of the perfect cup (I know it sounds a little bit obsessive!).
As I said before: I am not a tea expert. What I need to do here is giving you a quick overview about my favourite and recent purchases/discoveries.

Let's start from the Tieguanyin (铁观音), a variety of Chinese oolong tea I got from a Chinese language classmate of mine who recently visited Beijing. Guanyin was the Chinese Goddess of Mercy, like Kannon is for the Japanese culture. The name of the tea can be properly translated into English like "Iron Guanying", a trubute to this female entity that, legendary, gave a poor farmer, Mr. Wei, a precious tea shoot as a reward for having taking daily cares of the iron statue of the Goddess by the Fujian province. That was the very beginning of the production and selling of this Chinese green tea variety with a very flowery, fresh aroma and golden yellow shade.

 *** I couple the Tieguanyin tea with a minimal white mug from Ikea.

#thankyou2013

Hope you will be able to find almost one reason (even if the smallest) to be grateful for this passed year.

Happy New Year!

follow the hashtag #thankyou2013 on Twitter

Illustration: Michela De Pellegrin

London Purchases

I spent four days in the beautiful London, where it's always a pleasure to come back sometimes strolling around and having fun with good friends. Shopping in London is quite dispersive if you are not used to wide choises and crowded places, but, even if I left with a few spare room in my restrained luggage, I didn't came back empty-handed.

I chose three blue&white Japanese ceramic bowls founded by a nice stall in Camdem. They are from three different sizes all with adorable geometrical patterns. They are not Raku ware, but it's a worth purchase for my kitchen cupboard anyway!

The Autumnal Colors: Red

Finally here there is the Acer poetry. I'm so proud of my parents oriental corner of the garden where its Japanese variety is the undisputed protagonist.
I won't never forget how the month of November could be so stunning there in Japan where, thanks to the brightness Momiji {Acer Palmatum}, everything looks like set on fire.
After the Hanami it is impossible not to mention the tradition of going to visit scenic areas where leaves have turned red in Autumn.

This practice is called Momijigari, Kōyō or Kanpūkai, in some Northern area.
They say that Nikko and Kyoto are the most famous destination where to sit down finding ourselves entirely overwhelmed by colors and shapes of the foliage around.

The Autumnal Colors: Yellow

I can't stop thinking Fall is all about Ginkgo leaves {remember my latest Ode?}. I start staring at my parent house tree since the very beginning of October, ending with my mouth opened when it suddendly becomes yellow, on the 1st decade of November.

The name Ginkgo comes from the Chinese "yin-kuo", which literally means "golden apricot". Its leaves are the emblem of Tokyo City and, there, are considered just like sakura is in spring: holy gifts from gods.
But there's a reason why I'm still so attached to this fan-shape-leaves bush: they said that six A-bombed Ginkgo trees in Hiroshima are still alive. It means there's no strongest message of fortitude and courage but this. We can be brave and bright like a Ginkgo Tree to face a cold season of the heart where all our defences seems falling down, day by day.