Wabi-Sabi Mood

Wabi-sabi, that ancient philosophy which embraces imperfection, lies at the very heart of Japanese traditions—both artistic and societal. Today, it is being diluted by modernity. Worse still, this timeless aesthetic—nourished by the slow passage of time and enriched by the patina of age—is being cheapened by the mass-market home décor industry. Reducing wabi-sabi to what it once was, or to a fleeting “lifestyle” trend, is to confine it within a box. From their encounter with architect Kengo Kuma, the authors have retained—and illustrate here—his vision of “modern wabi-sabi. Through their travels in India, Europe, and Morocco, they have witnessed the transcontinental ripple effect of wabi-sabi and, through this aesthetic, the subtle yet powerful influence of Japan. While journeying through the Japanese archipelago, they met with a new generation who is preserving, revealing, and carrying forward this philosophy: the new ambassadors of wabi-sabi. From a shared moment with a monk in a teahouse to a thousand quiet joys, they experienced the wabi-sabi feeling… They summon it here, and invite you to experience it too.

Part travel journal, part photo book, and part collection of testimonies—Anne-Emmanuelle Thion, a nomadic photographer, and Thierry Grundman, a traveling antiques dealer and founder of Atmosphère d’Ailleurs and the Wabi-Sabi Lab—offer a cross-cultural, contemporary vision of wabi-sabi through encounters with those who embody it today. 

Text in English and French.

Almost 30 years ago, when leaving the world of contemporary art, Thierry Grundman undertook to go “elsewhere”: towards other projects, towards other cultures. It was in India that THE meeting of his life took place and that the idea of a collection of unusual and rare pieces was born. Atmosphère d’Ailleurs was born. For Thierry Grundman, travelling antiques dealer and founder of the brand, it is a passion of each moment… and a transmission. Anne-Emmanuelle Thion is a passionate and sensitive photographer based in France and Gran Canaria. And above all, a traveller. As a freelancer for 25 years, she has photographed travel, decoration, lifestyle, gastronomy and portraits for the press, agencies and brands. Her inspiration also leads her to more personal and artistic creations, with an introduction to old-fashioned printing techniques. Her work, often linked to matter and gentle imperfection, is a constant search for subjective beauty. Intuitively, she heads to the island of Gran Canaria to create the Finca Gallery, a place for inspiration, (re)connection and exhibitions. During the first Wabi-sabi Lab (29 November to 2 December, 2024) she presents “TAOLI”. 25 years of photography, search and immersion. A visual, olfactory, gustatory and sonic escape.