Find Beauty in the Ordinary

This article was inspired by our fab, Peer Worker James who has two great loves; printing and anything related to Japan. On his Japanese Woodblock Printing course, he shares his knowledge of ‘Ukiyo’ and how this can teach us to live in the present moment. 

Ukiyo is a Japanese art form that originated in the 17th century. These prints were created using woodblock printing techniques and depict various subjects such as landscapes, nature and people. The word “ukiyo” translates to “floating world, ” referring to the fleeting nature of life and the pursuit of pleasure. The philosophy of ukiyo teaches us that everything is constantly changing and nothing lasts forever, encouraging us to live in the present moment and to appreciate the beauty of life as it unfolds. By creating everyday scenes and objects, using vivid colours and intricate details this art form can encourage us to find beauty in ordinary things and appreciate the simple pleasures in life.
Take a moment now and look around you. What can you see? Perhaps you have a book nearby with a beautiful cover, maybe you can see snowdrops peaking through the soil in the garden, or a print or photograph on your wall that you walk past daily but rarely look at. Maybe you are washing dishes, and the light catches the bubbles and you see a small prism of colour. Let us be inspired by Ukiyo and learn to find joy in small things.