THE ROOT 9: 18.2

On The Art of Blending

For a while now, I’ve been subscribed to “The Culturist” on Substack. The publication beautifully weaves together commentary on art, history, and culture with deeper perspectives on human creativity, cultural analysis, and personal development.

Earlier this week, the post snipped below landed in my inbox. What initially caught my eye was the serene beauty the landscape depicted. I was curious to learn more about the Japanese art of ukiyo-e it mentioned, which profoundly influenced the 19th century French artist Henri Rivière.

Ukiyo-e, or “pictures of the floating world,” flourished in Japan from the 17th to 19th centuries, typically through woodblock prints and paintings of everyday life. This art form captures vibrant, fleeting moments with dynamic compositions, strong outlines, and vivid colors. You're likely familiar with Hokusai's Under The Wave off Kanagawa, a quintessential example of ukiyo-e.

On Japonisme

Rivière’s appreciation and adaptation of ukiyo-e to portray scenes of his native France were part of a broader phenomenon known as Japonisme. This was a widespread appreciation of Japanese art and design that swept across France and other parts of Europe after trade with Japan resumed in the 1850s. Its influence intensified when Japanese arts and crafts were prominently featured at the 1867 World’s Fair in Paris. Many artists of this era, including Pierre Bonnard and Édouard Vuillard, were similarly captivated and inspired by ukiyo-e.

Connecting to Today

Separately, over dinner, a friend and I had a conversation about architecture we admired and I immediately thought of my fondness for wabi-sabi in architecture—a Japanese concept that celebrates the beauty of imperfection, decay, and impermanence. One day, I’d love my home to embrace this aesthetic.

He introduced me to Japandi, a concept I hadn’t heard of yet. Essentially, Japandi is a design movement that blends East-meets-West by combining elements from Scandinavian and Japanese styles. It feels like a close relative to wabi-sabi, but with a distinct minimalist edge. This term and trend, from my research, seem to have emerged around 2017.

What Can We Learn?

This journey, from historical art movements to contemporary design trends, beautifully illustrates how our cultures find unique ways to intertwine. They’ve done so in the past, and they continue to do so today. There's a profound lesson here: one of harmony, coexistence, and the enduring beauty that emerges when diverse influences blend.

If you are interested in reading more:

Steps To Clear My Head

This week, I've been reflecting on how some practices, like putting pen to paper, help my thoughts flourish and guide me towards deeper reflection. Writing has always guided me to clarity.

In a similar vein, 75 Hard truly opened my eyes to the benefits of letting my mind wander, process, and think while I walk. To me, it's a similarly clarifying experience. So much so that after I wrapped up my first 75 Hard on December 31st, 2022, I invested in a walking treadmill. This lets me mimic the clarity of an outdoor walk right at home and frees any limitations of daylight or weather when I need to move.

I've found it to be a game-changer. If I’m working from home and feeling overwhelmed by my to-do list, need a midday energy boost, or want to release some cortisol but can't physically step outside, the walking pad under my desk works wonders.

It helps me break out of a mental block and shift to a more proactive, problem-solving mindset. It helps me refocus my attention when my mind starts to drift, bringing me back to the task at hand. Beyond that, walking is known to regulate our stress hormones, and even just ten minutes of an indoor walk significantly calms my mood.

Mine is no longer available, unfortunately, but there are plenty to choose from out there 🙂

I’m not going to lie - my water intake after drinking a gallon a day for 75 Hard significantly decreased. I definitely stopped prioritize hydration for a minute after tracking it so closely for 75 days.

It led me to having some pretty severe mid-day headaches, which honestly started to impact my ability to function at work (caffeine does not replace water, Yoana!) and I ordered Pedialyte AdvancedCare on to go packets. I wanted to mimic the hydrating feeling a gallon a day gave me without actually drinking that much water.

I’ve been loving these on-the-go packets 🙂