Aesthetics and Politics

The man of tea learns of it quickly : a long-neck jet black vase has a different aura from a simple open and refreshing bamboo vase.  Why do we keep the room empty ? Simply to give space to imagination ? Any item keeps the mind busy. Across history, powerful politicians have always understood this, one way or another. « Beauty » is a sensibility that varies with cultures and fashions. To change our conception of the beautiful, of the agreeable, is to change our approach of the world.

Aesthetic is politic

During the Momoyama era, a kind of Japanese Renaissance compressed in a handful of years, Sen no Rikyu ruled over aesthetic — according to some historians. The man who wanted every warlord to bow as he entered the tea room set the social tone to modesty of mean, dark colors and rustic simplicity. Some say that Hideyoshi Toyotomi, the great lord of the time, supported Rikyu in his actions. Others say that he saw in the Tea master’s aesthetic power a true menace for his society of magnificence. To invite the people to be more modest or to invite them to party, to decorate the streets with shinning colors or with dull temples. That was the question.

In the Western world too, the question of aesthetic had its importance. Just think of the never ending debate on publicly representing the divine and sexuality. Christianity was shackled by these problems many times — from the iconoclaste crisis of Byzance to the Reform through the languorous paintings of the Renaissance. Each time, a certain idea of society was reflected in the mirror of art.

The one cup revolution

And in the world of tea, how many ways to serve ? How many atmospheres changed by a ceramic choice ?  I have always served my guests with a different tea bowl for each. It introduces the idea of strong individualities. Each guest is unique, each has a tailor-made experience. In Chinese tea gatherings that I have witnessed, it was the opposite : we were all served in similar cups. We were living the same experience. We were equal. Some would say that such detail is not so important. I tend to think that they are just not very receptive to their context…but are changed by it, subtly.

Our daily life and us

If such a tiny cup can change everything, what should we think of our architecture ? All of this is intensely political. The way we decorate, we inhabit. The way we inhabit, we think — and, continuing : ways of chatting, singing, engaging…

In such conditions, it seems difficult to think that a choice in decoration, music or perfume is simply a matter of « personal taste ».

So, I look around me, in my own society. I hear music with electronic tones, people drinking chemical drinks at parties, people watching nervous movies…And I wonder, what it say about us and our politics. I wonder why so many people are afraid of forests and addicted to air conditionner.  Why to serve tea seems so boring to some while spending an entire night looking at pictures on each other’s phone, seating on a multicolor teddy bear under a gloomy neon light, is a normal group activity. Why are we living the way we are ?