drei is an ongoing series of photographic artwork that addresses three specific aspects of Christopher Young's personal life and practice - people, place and objects. It develops concepts of context, implied narrative and space to communicate, amongst other things, darkness and danger. Images are, for Chris, inherently loaded with stories. When he sees a broken door or a crumpled piece of paper he interprets these further than simple objective observation. 'Why' and 'how' are impossible to ignore. Using very limited information and his emotional response he 'fills' in the gaps and create myths. He is interested in what or who is not there, what he can't quite see and the helplessness of not being able to 'ground' an image in a time line.
 statement  biography  the exhibition  the book  the videos  contact  zebra-factory 

wabi sabi

wabi sabi
Calligraphy by Emiko Banton.

The concept of wabi sabi was introduced to me by Emiko after she saw some of the first large drei prints in late 2006.

wabi sabi nurtures all that is authentic by acknowledging three simple realities: nothing lasts, nothing is finished, and nothing is perfect1.

Wabi now connotes rustic simplicity, freshness or quietness, and can be applied to both natural and human-made objects, or understated elegance. It can also refer to quirks and anomalies arising from the process of construction, which add uniqueness and elegance to the object.

Sabi is beauty or serenity that comes with age, when the life of the object and its impermanence are evidenced in its patina and wear, or in any visible repairs.

Wabi and sabi both suggest sentiments of desolation and solitude... representing liberation from a material world and transcendence to a simpler life.

A very simple translation of wabi sabi would be Sad Beauty2.

1 Powell, Richard R. (2004). Wabi Sabi Simple.
2 Wikipedia

drei #03

drei03

1000mm x 700mm Lightjet Print. Edition of 10 (2006)