Izu – Mono no aware

n Mono No Aware: The Beauty of Impermanence, Izu explores three subjects: 14th-century Noh masks from the Nohgaku Museum in Kanazawa, Japan; the stones and “giant trees of a sacred class” that surround the remains of ancient shrines that were built as Noh stages; and the briefly blooming wildflowers and grasses found near his home.

The phrase “Mono No Aware” translates to “the pathos of things” and reflects a Japanese concept recognizing the impermanence of life and expressing an appreciation of the fleeting beauty of ephemeral objects. In some 100 images, Izu examines this concept in three themes: Yugen (profundity), Sabi (beauty with aging), and Wabi (austere beauty), each speaking to “the beauty of impermanence” found in his subjects.

Mono No Aware is printed in duotone on natural matte art paper and bound in linen over boards, presented in 2 volumes housed in a custom slipcase. It  includes essays by Kenro Izu, Kaoru Nakanish (Director of the Sasayama Nohgaku Museum), and Hirotada Kasannoin (Chief Priest of Kasuga Taisha).

24 x 30.5 cm