december 2022 newsletter

yoi o-toshi wo o-mukae kudasai!

The phrase above is used towards the end of the year to wish a “good approach to the new year”, while once entered in 2023, “shin-nen akemashite omedetou gozaimasu” is used, which means: “the new year started to shine, congratulations”
In any case, everything that has a start will also have an end.
But the end is also the launching pad for a new start!
And we wish that 2023, the year of the rabbit will make you jump into wonderful new stories, new experiences, and maybe also in a new ofuro!

(You can scroll towards the end of this email to see my rabbit-themed proposal for the “haiku-yu” model with ceramic plates made by Nanzan Itoh)

White rabbits also remind me of Alice in Wonderland and of the 1969 song “White rabbit” by Jefferson Airplane.
Are you going to chase white rabbits in 2023? I think it is worth it. If we look at whats happening in the world, with the “White Knight talking backward” and “the Red Queen being off with her head” we should definitely remember what the Dormouse said.

He says “take a bath?”, right?　(lol !)
or was it “feed your head” ?
Well, I think it does not matter much because in any case taking a bath is the perfect catalyst for meditating, slowing down, connecting with our inner being and of course feeding our head.

Focusing inside is the best antidote to intoxication from negative news that grow into negative feelings to originate the downward spirals that cause wars, crisis, and the lowering of our consciences.

But with the new year, we have a perfect excuse to turn the page and feed our life with positivity. And as much as it may sound egoistic and out of context, I think that positivity starts with self-love or as Japanese say “JI-AI”.
When we feel positive ad energetic, we can protect ourselves from negative emotions and have enough momentum to influence positively and lift up those around us.

Oops, I did not plan to make a sermon about positive thinking…! m(_ _)m
In any case, I think that sometimes we are taking life too seriously, and personally, my new year proposition is to follow white rabbits in 2023.
Are you with us? Let`s enjoy the chase!

New Year = new “haiku-yu” designs!

OO YUKI

大雪となる　兎の赤い　眼玉である

Ooyuki to naru
usagi no akai
medama de aru
by Hōsai Ozaki

In the heavy snow the red of the eye of the snow-rabbit becomes evident.

Very simple image yet very powerful, suggesting the bright contrast between white and red – that are also the colors used in the Japanese flag.

The rhymed ending (naru – aru) is also a notable feature of this haiku that combines audio-visual suggestions.

In this interpretation, from far, the tiles appear mostly white creating a refined yet witty coordination with the wood surface of the ofuro.

FURU IKE

Furu ike ya
kawazu tobikomu
mizu no oto
by Matsuo Basho

One of the most well-known haiku.
It depicts the multisensorial experience of a frog jumping into the old pond.

The splash of the frog jumping in the water are symbolized by droplets of water and rings on the water surface which are also a symbol of the sound of water: sudden yet mellow.

This set uses predominantly monochrome tiles; the relief is accented by a darker tone of the same base color.
As in other series, one tile representing the main theme is finished with gold color and one containing the signature of Nanzan, is enameled in chrome.

But what is haiku-yu? In the autumn newsletter, I introduced our collaboration project with the ceramist Nanzan Itoh
(see here) -> https://bartokdesign.com/0-blog_news/september-2022-newsletter.php

We will exhibit one “haiku-yu” ofuro in Honolulu on February 21st and 22nd.
Meanwhile we are also receiving order for personalized and dedicated haiku themed ofuros!

Here below are photos of the the first pop color- series that was completed, dedicated to a tea lover:

TEA SMOKE

茶の煙　柳と共に　そよぐ也

cha no kemuri
yanagi to tomo ni
soyogu nari

-by Issa,
a 18th/19th century Japanese poet from the village of Kashiwabara in the mountains of Japan’s Shinano Province

the tea smoke and the willow together trembling

NIJI (RAINBOW)

The other design that still needs to be mounted on the
ofuro front panel is inspired by :

虹立ちて　忽ち君の　在る如し

Niji tachite
tachimachi kimi no
arugotoshi
by Kyoshi Takahama

As soon as the rainbow rises, it’s as if you were there

We dedicated this to a client who wanted the ofuro to be symbol of the family getting together.
It is nice to reunite, but it is even sweeter to be always together with the thought!

It only remains me to thank you for reading this letter to the end, renewing my best blessings for a serene Year End and sparkling new beginnings!

It is the last day of the year! Or as Matsuo Basho would say:

なりにけりなりにけりまで年の暮
nari ni keri / nari ni keri made / toshi no kure

it has become
it has become indeed
the end of the year