White
Complex
Creative
Artistic

White

Kenya Hara2010
"White" is not a book about colors. It is rather Kenya Haras attempt to explore the essence of "White", which he sees as being closely related to the origin of Japanese aesthetics - symbolizing simplicity and subtlety. The central concepts discussed by Kenya Hara in this publication are emptiness and the absolute void. Kenya Hara also sees his work as a designer as a form of communication. Good communication has the distinction of being able to listen to each other, rather than to press one's opinion onto the opponent. Kenya Hara compares this form of communication with an "empty container". In visual communication, there are equally signals whose signification is limited, as well as signals or symbols such as the cross or the red circle on the Japanese flag, which - like an "empty container" - permit every signification and do not limit imagination. Not alone the fact that the Japanese character for white forms a radical of the character for emptiness has prompted him the closely associate the color white with emptiness.
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Reviews

Photo of Cassandra Tang
Cassandra Tang@tangaroo
4.5 stars
Feb 25, 2025

An inspiring read with Kenya offering many beautiful, 'simple' examples to illustrate abstract concepts on 'white' and 'emptiness'.

+3
Photo of vlad
vlad@vlaaad
5 stars
Apr 1, 2023
+3
Photo of Matías Valenzuela
Matías Valenzuela@matiasvalenzuela
5 stars
Jan 13, 2023
Photo of chris
chris@pianogoth
5 stars
Apr 2, 2024
Photo of shu
shu@shuyawns
4 stars
Jan 8, 2024
Photo of Simon Oosterdijk
Simon Oosterdijk@mistero
5 stars
Mar 28, 2022
Photo of Ana
Ana@anaaniri
5 stars
Feb 8, 2022
Photo of Nish Bhat
Nish Bhat@nish
5 stars
Dec 29, 2021
Photo of Rob Brogan
Rob Brogan@rob
4 stars
Sep 14, 2021
Photo of Gianfranco Chicco
Gianfranco Chicco@Gchicco
5 stars
Jul 26, 2021

Highlights

Photo of Cassandra Tang
Cassandra Tang@tangaroo

White moves in the opposite direction of chaos; it is the singular image that emerges from disorder.

Page 71
This highlight contains a spoiler
Photo of Cassandra Tang
Cassandra Tang@tangaroo

A creative mind, in short, does not see an empty bowl as valueless, but perceives it as existing in a transitional state, waiting for the content that will eventually fill it; and this creative perspective instills power in the emptiness.

Page 36
This highlight contains a spoiler
Photo of Cassandra Tang
Cassandra Tang@tangaroo

Paper’s seductive power led to the steady growth of knowledge, quickly joined by a new sense of beauty.

Page 28
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