Invisible : the play of imagination

Abstract: My master degree project is investigating how certain ideas from the traditional Japanese culture can be used within the field of interior design. The project has resulted in everyday objects - lamps and room dividers. In my opinion, these objects can very effectively be used to add life and poetry to space. I wanted to make objects for meditation and for keeping the balance of mind. Another ambition with the project has been to find ways to express immediate emotions through this specific media. For this reason I have turned to the technique of Japanese calligraphy1. This technique, which I have practiced for 15 years, is expressing ideas of crucial importance to my work – the philosophy of Zen2. The Japanese rock garden, Karesansui (“dry mountain water”), is another important part of my work. In simple words it represents the "empty and imperfect". Karesansui is the perfect manifestation of what I want to express about Japanese culture. The soul and logic, the very idea of my work – all of it can be found in the Karesansui. My work, like the Karesansui, is encouraging the viewer to take an active, creative part in the process: the imagination of the viewer is what makes it complete. My intention is, by using the Karesansui principle, to reveal what I think is the main idea of the Japanese culture. Apart from this, I also hope that my design will prove to meaningful and reasonable in its every day use.