Coming out of the shadows
In his wonderful (if occasionally offensive) 1933 essay In Praise of Shadows, author Junichiro Tanizaki considers the role that shadows play in Japanese culture. From architecture to theatre and food, he argues that the sensitive use of shadow and light can heighten the beauty of spaces, faces and objects. ‘Our ancestors, forced to live in dark rooms, presently came to discover beauty in shadows,’ he reveals, ‘ultimately to guide shadows towards beauty’s ends.’ For Tanizaki, shadows create a sense of mystery, tranquillity and depth. He marvels at the beauty of heavy shadows against light, the sensory richness of dark spaces and areas of contrast. ‘Were it not for shadows,’ he says, ‘there would be no beauty.’
In the West, however, it’s fair to say that our relationship to shadows hasn’t always been so positive. As children we often declare that we are. ‘I have always had a wariness of shadows,’ she confesses. ‘Shadows can be frightening, an unknown quantity, harbouring threat and shadowy characters. But shadows are a part of life, both aesthetically and spiritually. As silence proves the sound and pausing proves the act, it is always darkness that proves the light.’
