The Japanese have a term: Wabi-sabi. We don't really have an English equivalent. Its a world view, an appreciation for things that are beautifully decayed or falling apart. It's an acceptance with the fact that all matter must age and eventually pass, a kind of peace and agreement with the natural order of things. In the West we have the urge to "fix" everything; to a apply a coat of paint over something old to clean it up and make it look "nice". The Japanese are into enjoying the beauty of paint peeling and color running and patina; the feeling of time having past. I'm really interested in the effect time has on objects. Rust, scratches, wear and tear; the natural process of aging. There is a beauty there that cannot be manufactured.
This is an interesting doc. on the Wabi-sabi aesthetic.
Learn more here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wabi-sabi
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