The Canadian aesthetic
There was a great article in the Globe this weekend on Pure Design and Douglas Coupland. It includes this quote from Doug (ha, like I know him):
"Most countries have aesthetics based on doing the most with what little they have -- Sweden and pine; Japan and bamboo," he wrote.
"The Canadian aesthetic is based on doing nearly nothing with superabundance. It's sinful. It's disgusting. And we have a government that makes us think this is okay. We should be shipping raw logs to Newfoundland, and Newfoundlanders should be making kickass furniture that wipes Ikea off the map. Anything less than this is national failure."
Also of interest: the author of the article, James Culham, runs Useful + Agreeable.
Posted by Gene Smith on Feb 24, 2003
