Suiseki

Suiseki is the Japanese art of stone appreciation. Formed through time by wind and water, stones can take several sizes and shapes, reminding us of natural objects. The stones are naturally occurring and unshaped by human hands. They are typically placed on delicate wooden stands or trays, called daizas and dobans, respectively. These serve to display the stones and create an image of harmony.

Literally translated, “Suiseki” means “waterstone”. They often represent mountains, waterfalls and other natural scenes. Their value is in the power to evoke an image or memory, honouring the aesthetic of “wabi-sabi”.

In traditional Japanese aesthetics, wabi-sabi is a world view centred on the acceptance of transience and imperfection. It is sometimes described as one of beauty that is "imperfect, impermanent, and incomplete”. Characteristics of wabi-sabi include asymmetry, simplicity, austerity, modesty, intimacy, and appreciating the integrity of natural objects and processes.