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Gaman

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Gaman

Japanese version of this blog found below.

Practice makes patience… 

There are days, and all of us I’m sure can relate, where the world can feel somewhat bleak, and the tendency to becoming grumpy or irritable comes a little more naturally to us. On those days, it’s easy to fall into a cycle of negativity and resistance. During my 20 years in Japan, I learned about the philosophy of gaman. Gaman which can be translated as “patience”, “perseverance”, or “tolerance” is a deeply ingrained Buddhist concept/idea that is innate in Japanese culture. It is a way of reframing your mindset, instead of complaining or being irritable about something that is inevitable. Gaman means simply accepting what is and is not.. giving up control and developing acceptance and equanimity. 

Snail

Perhaps the concept of gaman was one of the reasons I was so drawn to Japan. While I was learning textile design in the 80’s I began to read about Japanese traditional weaving and dyeing techniques and this piqued my interest in other arts and crafts in Japan. I wanted to learn more of the process of craft, and developing the required patience was one of my greatest challenges! So much of  creating art and craft requires patience, perseverance, and the tolerance to push through when things go wrong. When I began learning metal smithing there were various techniques that really pushed me to my limits and there still are, it is the nature of the craft. Achieving the correct flame for soldering delicate pieces of metal, firing without breaking enamel work, trying to create a certain colour, keeping my studio organized are just a few of the challenges and the list goes on. Facing difficulties and impatience is a daily test and one that each artist and craftsperson must manage in order to evolve and refine their work. 

Developing gaman or patience can help slow things down and that’s where the beauty lies, in taking time. Then, working becomes a meditative process and I am able to find quiet space within and keep going. When making my wearable art, one of my favourite things is to create simple forms. Simplicity can appear effortless but achieving balance is not always easy, if the design is off by just a millimetre it can affect the overall design. While finding simplicity, I can get lost in the process of discovering the delicate line or curve, textures and colours letting the metal guide me and the entire process brings a sense of calm. 

Brooch

Gaman/patience is not an innate human quality but rather something acquired through time and practice. In our busy and modern world, the old adage “patience is a virtue” or “good things come to those who wait” are increasingly difficult. We all want and expect immediate results, satisfaction and success. When I look around the modern world, I see all the ways in which the traditional arts and crafts have much to teach us about patience and perseverance, and building the tolerance for non-immediate results. 

Each handcrafted piece in my shop is crafted with these virtues, and I would love for you to check them out. In fact, I just added some new products to my store! You can view them here. To read my past blogs, click here. 

_____________________________

我慢

JUN 30, 2022

 

忍耐は力なり…

 

私達みんなに言えることだと思いますが、世の中の見通しに暗さを感じたり、苛立ったりしがちな日が増えているのではないでしょうか。そんな時は、悲しみと怒りの気持ちが繰り返し湧いてきます。日本で20年間暮らす中で、私は我慢の哲学を学びました。我慢は“忍耐”“辛抱”“寛容”などにも言い換えられ、仏教に深く根ざす考えです。避けられない物事に不平を言ったり腹を立てたりするのではなく、固まりがちな考えやものの見方を変える一つの方法でもあります。我慢は、物事をシンプルにそのまま受け入れること、受容と平静を保つ鍛錬を諦めないことなのです。

 

この概念は、私が日本に惹かれたひとつの理由でもあります。テキスタイルデザインを学んでいた80年代に日本の伝統織物と染色技術に関する本を読み、日本美術や工芸に強く惹き付けられました。技術を学び、忍耐力を身に着けることは、大きな挑戦だったのです!創作は忍耐と寛容、やり遂げる根気を必要とします。彫金を学び始めた頃から、その奥深い技法が私を限界に挑ませることは、今も変わっていません。繊細な金属片を接合する炎の微調整、エナメルの質感を壊さないような焼成、微妙な色合いを表現するための試行錯誤、アトリエの運営など、これらはほんの数例で私のチャレンジ・リストはまだまだ続いています。困難や焦りは日々の試練で、より良い作品を生み出すために乗り越えなければなりません。 

 

我慢や忍耐を身に着けることは心のゆとりや落ち着きにつながり、時間をかけるなかで、そこには美が宿ります。やがて作業は瞑想のプロセスへと変わって静けささえ感じるようになり、無理なく続けることが出来るようになるのです。創作の愉しみのひとつにシンプルな造形があります。シンプルなことは努力を要しないように思われますが、バランスをとることは決して簡単ではなく、1ミリ違っただけでも全体のデザインを左右します。シンプルさを追求しつつ繊細なラインやカーブに向き合い、素材に導かれるままに質感や色彩を見出していく、そのプロセス全体が心の落ち着きをもたらしてくれるのです。

 

忍耐はもともと備わったものではなく時間と努力によって少しずつ身につけていくものですが、忙しい現代社会では、“忍耐は美徳”や“善いことは待つ者に訪れる”は難しくなりつつあります。私達はみんな、すぐに得られる結果、満足や成功を望んでいます。今の世の中を見渡すと、伝統美術や工芸品こそが、結果を導き出すまでの忍耐や根気、そして寛容さを教えてくれている気がするのです。

 

美徳を込めた新作を追加したばかり!ぜひこちらから。

https://suzuanjewelry.com/collections/all?sort_by=created-descending

そして以前のブログはこちらから。

https://suzuanjewelry.com/blogs/musings