In 16th century Japan, Sen no Rikyu developed wabi-cha, the ceremony in which tea is made, served and drunk as a simple ritual for body and mind – wabi meaning beauty found in simple things and cha meaning tea. The Wabi-char project surveys and celebrates the aesthetics of tea drinking, adapting some of the principles of Japanese wabi-cha to explore regional and individual tea rituals in Blackpool & Wyre.
Over the summer of 2015 I will be talking to tea-drinkers and documenting their teapots and teacups, favourite blends and the best company to share a brew with, highlighting the important social role that tea plays in everyday community life. A series of chap-books or pamphlets will be produced to present these unique tea-drinking rituals and then distributed at various art and community events.
At a final Banquet event, I will be serving tea in small ceremonies inspired by my tea encounters with residents of Blackpool & Wyre.
For news and updates, please follow wabichar.wordpress.com
Commissioned by LeftCoast for Banquet.