I have always been fascinated by Japanese culture and its unique perspective on the world. I find the Japanese ability to see beauty in imperfection — in flaws, in the unique and unrepeatable characteristics of an object — incredibly captivating. Isn’t it similar to the way many of us learn to embrace ourselves, with all our imperfections?
This idea is what I wanted to convey in the design of these masks, and I chose the image of kintsugi — the Japanese art of mending broken objects. The ability to create a special kind of beauty from fragments can serve as an inspiring example for all of us: there is no need to strive for perfection because beauty already lies in our uniqueness.
For this series of masks, I chose an unexpected scent — hinoki, the Japanese cypress, which plays an important role in traditional Japanese culture. Its delicate woody aroma helps cultivate a sense of inner zen, turning the use of the mask into a true slow living ritual.