With its aesthetic purity and use of negative space, traditional Japanese design is often considered a precursor to Minimalism. Contemporary Japanese artist and master indigo dyer Hiroyuki Shindo has explained the importance of negative space in his work: “In my exploration of indigo dyeing I have discovered that the white [area] in each work—whether hand-woven cotton or linen or a mixture of both—is as great a concern as the dyed portion. If the white is not brilliant enough, or the un-dyed portion is not of the right proportion, the balance is broken.” While his organic process accepts chance elements, which defy Minimalism's typical dictate for order, the finished product is, like Minimalism, completely reflective of its materials and process.