A Whip of Time

Acrylic on canvas, 40 x 50 cm, 2023

The concept of “Mono no aware” is multifaceted and cannot be directly translated into other languages as such. Its core idea lies in nature and humanity, in the constant change of everything, and in the understanding that nothing is permanent. Since nothing is permanent, everything that changes also carries with it the notion of sadness. But not a sadness that overwhelms everything, rather, it can be thought of as a ”gentle sadness.” It also encompasses the idea of the beauty of the moment—the appreciation of what we have here and now, which soon will no longer be. Everything is constantly in flux. This realization, in turn, makes this moment unique and something to be cherished. Even this moment is a moment of change, and change itself is beauty. Mono no aware doesn’t look to the past, nor the future, nor does it worry about them. It is the embodiment of the present moment.

Mono no aware invites a person to immerse themselves in the present moment. It gives one the opportunity to detach from the linearity of time. In return, one can experience beauty, free from demands placed on themselves or the world.