Wabi-sabi &
Ryuichi Sakamoto
Click HERE to download the research dissertation
The Japanese aesthetic wabi-sabi (侘寂) has received attention as a versatile philosophy for examining and elucidating different aspects of imperfection in soundscape music. Yet, research that uses wabi-sabi to elucidate deeper contexts in imperfection-inspired soundscapes often overlooks wabi-sabi’s historical and spiritual aspects — resulting in inauthentic interpretations.
This research paper establishes a background about imperfection in the Japanese composer Ryuichi Sakamoto’s soundscape album async — then presents wabi-sabi as a theoretical application — drawing research from the architecture, visual arts, and design fields to integrate their frameworks into Sakamoto’s soundscapes and the possibilities it provides. Three underlying aspects of wabi-sabi serve as interpretive grounds in elucidating async’s imperfection: Natural Imperfection, Asymmetry, and Emptiness/Nothingness. Selections from Sakamoto’s album async are presented as case studies to illustrate each underlying aspect and to understand how wabi-sabi can be adapted to various aspects of imperfection throughout the album.
DE/Comp & the Sound Event
DE/COMPOSITION was a conceptual soundscape app presented in collaboration with the Orpheus Institute, Christchurch University, and the Centre for Practice-Based Research on January 22/2022. The project builds on research demonstrating both the adverse effect of anthropogenic sound pollution for human and nonhuman actors, as well as the meritorious outcomes of exposure to natural soundscapes, offering interventions for performance, sited installation, and geo-located soundwalks. The ultimate aim of the project is the development of an open-source, user-driven mobile interface for gathering, sharing, and producing bio-mimetic sound experiences for human (and eventually nonhuman) applications.