Flower Obsession

I recently visited Museum Boijmans in Rotterdam to see their retrospective exhibition with works by the Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama. Among the works were the video "Flower Obsession Gerbera" from 1999.

The obsessions of Kusama is in a way the opposite of the less is more spirit of ikebana. Still, I guess ikebana can also become an obsession [Obsession: an endless repetition of personal rituals to keep chaos on distance]. I know Kusama uses the repetitiv techniques in her own art to keep insanity away. Since I came directly from a kado program by Shambhala Rotterdam to this exhibition and my head was full of flowers, I kind of felt that Kusama was teasing me by pushing Gerberas down the neck of her clothes, and finally popping a single Gerbera in her mouth. Obsessed or just playing around - who is who?

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The Martial Way and the Way of Flowers

What is the realtion between martial arts and ikebana? I came across an fascinating article on the net by Dave Lowry, author of several books on budo and other martial arts. In his article To Blossom and Scatter Lowry looks into the way of flowers from the perspective of a budo practitioner.

I'll give you a few quotes to get an idea of the contents:

"It is important to understand that the practitioner of ikeabana no more seeks in his art to make a 'pretty bouquet' than the budoka seeks to learn 'self defense.' While both of these are byproducts of the study of these disciplines, the goal of the budo and of ikebana are consistent with the goals of all Japanese Do forms. They are pursued as a Way of life."

"There is in ikebana as well as in the martial Ways, a struggle for unity and harmony of elemets, for the interplay of hard and soft, for a moment of spontaneous creation based upon the foundation of a fixed form."

"Mono no aware, the 'recognition of life's impermanence,' is one of numerous terms in Japanese cultural thought that denote a deep appreciation of how wonderfully precious life comes to be when we come honestly face to face with its brevity."

Quotes from To Blossom and Scatter... The Martial Way & the Way of Flowers by Dave Lowry, published in Michi Online Journal of Japanese Cultural Arts.

There are also other articles on ikebana in their archives - have a look! Unfortunately it seems that they stopped publishing in the year 2000.

This much I have learned; the blossom

that fades away, its color unseen,

is the flower of the heart

of one who lives in this world.

(From Kokin Shu)

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Maze-ZaShi

Ikebana with five or more kinds of plant materials. This is opposite of what we usally do in Sogetsu - which is working with two contrasting materials, or sometimes three. The impression of a Maze-ZaShi ikeabana should be light, rich, peaceful, and in season.

Red and yellow.

A grassy autumn feeling.

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More Leaves

I found som old pictures of Ikebana featuring the surfaces of leaves. Hope you like them. They are from last year, but what the heck - let's enjoy them while it is the season for it.

A cascade of Bergenia leaves with pink roses.

Brown spotted bamboo leaves in a metal boat container with red mums.

Bergenia in a moon vase with a grass straw balancing on top.

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Raku in South of France

My friend Brigitte Schneider is exhibiting her Raku ceramics in Mougins, France, October 18-19. There will also be an ikebana, bonsai, calligraphy and other stuff.

I had the opportunity to visit Brigitte in her studio outside of Cannes earlier this year. I just love her Raku - it goes really well with ikebana. Hopefully I will find something that I can't resist at the exhibition.

Visit Atelier Tokibana for more information. (Photos are from the website, copyrigth Atelier Tokibana)

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Flexibility and Strength

The strong and flexible vines of Hydrangea goes together with a heavy vase with voluminous lines. Pink Lilies to contrast the brown. Stripped from leaves the character of the vines is showed of, - lo and behold, the naked vines has got new bulbs already.

Ishu-ike (arrangement with only one material): Hop plant - vines and cones, in an old rosty pipe.

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Nothing but Branches

Ok, here are some more autumn leaves, only the idea this time is to use two or more kinds of branches - and nothing but branches.

Yellow and red - Rowan and Japanese Maple, in a vertical arrangement.

A branch of Apple tree, something that looks like Black Current, only with bluish berries, and Yew. Trying to catch the character of the different branches and the season.

Potentilla with yellow flowers and Japanese Maple, in a copper pot with the glow of autumn.

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Browsing Through Time

Some people really have put a lot of work in sharing information on internet. By coincidence I stumbled across two articles about Sofu Teshigahara in Time Magazine, one from 1955 and one written in 1978.

In the 1955 articel, "Grass and Moon Master", Sofu is described as "a short, gnomelike figure dressed in a cream-colored coat, grey flannels and sneakers", staring reflectively at a hydragena in Bois de Boulogne, Paris. The first impression is contrasted by the statement "That gentleman is a famous Japanese flower arranger, Monsieur Sofu". The article goes on telling about his ikebana exhibition that "boogles the eyes and stuns the senses". It also tells the story about Sofu starting up the Sogetsu School, his work in wartime, and the success of his exhibitions after the war was ended.

Fascinating reading.

The 1978 articel "Japan's Picasso of the Flowers" writes about the opening of The Sogetsu School's eleven-story headquarters building, designed by Japanese Architect Kenzo Tange. Again we get the story of Sofu going new ways and starting his school. This time he is depicted as travelling in a chauffeured white Cadillac and living in an expensive Western-style house.

Read the articles online through these links:

Grass Moon Master, Time, Monday, Jul. 11, 1955

Japan's Picasso of the Flowers, Time, Monday, Jan. 30, 1978

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Autumn Leaves

Nothing is like the colors of autumn leaves. I've made some arrangements with leaves only, trying to grasp the quality of the different kinds of leaves.

A vertical arrangement in a small stone container, tropical Flax and Aspedistra with Bergenia from the garden. To me this is expressing energy and courage.

Ligthness in a triangular shape, Flax, Aspidistra and an unknown autumn leave found in the garden.

This is a really simple one - peace and energy - Daylily, Bergenia and some small round leaves that I picked up in the flower shop.

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Just Flowers

I love Sunflowers. They're generous and warm.

In this arrangement, with flowers only, I've worked with the vase to reflect the gentle warmth of the Sunflowers. The darker yellow of the glass grounds the arrangement. Two kinds of pink flowers with yellow center, Dahlia and Freesia, ads contrast and continuity at the same time.

To me this brings a feeling of joy and hope.

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