Born in a Broken Heart

"Ikebana is an organic training in gentleness...

Flowers are vulnerable - that is their strength."

In this thoughtful short film, "Born in a broken heart: A smile mixed with tears", ikebana teacher Stéphane Bédard is discussing the role of a teacher and how ikebana practice can give a more direct relationship to art and to our life. He also gives an interesting introduction to a philosophy of gentleness and fearlessness. It really is worth seeing if you would like to understand more about ikebana. Being an ikebana practitioner I feel that this video deepens my appreciation of the way of flowers.

Stéphane Bédard is trained in the Sogetsu School of ikebana and he also teaches the Shambhala art program. You'll find two more videos with Bédard on the website of Shambhala art in the Resources section, Media Library. It's the two videos from Shambhala art Ottawa.

Tweet

Flowers for Valentine's Day

"Spring Cleaning" - unconventional materials
Dusters, branches, pink roses and table wiper hearts,

in two wooden containers.

Using unconventional materials was one of the new ideas in ikebana introduced by Sofu Teshigahara, the founder of the Sogetsu school. The underlaying idea was that ikebana is mainly about form, lines, colour and space, and that ikebana can be made by anyone, anywhere and with any materials. Using objects from everyday life helps develop your creativity and also grounds your ikebana practice in life "as-it-is".

"A Secret Sign" - surfaces of lines and leaves

Dried bamboo/some black painted, pink rose and Aspidistra leaf,

in a wooden box with a sign.

When creating ikebana for Valentine's day I have focused on the unexpected love message that brakes through the repetitiveness of continuing everyday work, a secret message that is at the same time hidden and visible.

I have no idea what the sign on the wooden box means. I've used it as an abstract pattern with a hidden message. Still - if you now the true meaning I'll be glad if you let me know.

Tweet

Knitting a Vase

The young ceramicist Laurence Laurent is knitting the structure of her creations before painting them with several thin layers

of white porcelain. The knitting yarn burns away in the firing process leaving an interesting pattern in the fragile vases.

Last month Laurent exhibited her vases and objects in the well known ceramic centre Vallauris-Golfe-Juan in South of France. My local friends took me there on an exhibition tour that I will not forget. I love the way the light passes through the porcelain and the familiar knitted pattern.

"Today Laurence Laurent has found her way, her mode of expression and continues her journey", the exhibiton organizer says. Let's hope we'll see more knitting porcelain from Laurence Laurent.

Photo © Svein G. Josefsen

Tweet

Origami

"A process of making is the point of it. This needs to be a kind of ballet."

This clip is the official trailer for the documentary "Between the Folds". It is not about ikebana, but it's fascinating and origami is also a Japanese art form.

I found this video on the Collage Diva blog. Thanks Kathryn for sharing!

Tweet

The First Day of Spring

Spring branches and a pink rose in an icy glass container.

It's snowing again - this really is a country made for winter ikebana with naked branches. Even so, today I'm posting an early spring arrangement, in honor of the Japanese first day of spring "Risshun" that was February 4th. Slightly curved lines signalizing that nature is coming back to life, and a pink rose to remind us of the first blossoming branches in the snow - I can't wait.

Tweet

Utsurawa-ba Again

Ikebana artist So-sen have posted some inspiring pictures from the January Utsurawa-ba event. This month features contemporary Japanese ceramics by Katsumura Akito. I find the simplicity and balance of these small size ikebana arrangements very to the point. The ceramics is beautiful too and reminds me that i should make a post about the relation between Japanese and Scandinavian ceramics - it will be on the blog soon so please come back if you'd like to read it.

Have a look at the Utsurawa-ba pictures on this page.

Tweet

A Ship of Good Fortune

Dried straws, Lisianthus and an Aspidistra leaf.

In classical ikebana the boat arrangements form a category of their own. There are ships lying in the port, ships coming in, ships going out, and ships in storm. A treasure ship coming in is a symbolic wish for all the good things in life. In addition to being related to the potential dangers of being out in a boat, ships are also metaphors of the voyage of life.

Pine and Freesia.

I'm posting two boat arrangement as a New Years greeting. The first is a modern interpretation of a ship resting on calm water in the port after a long trip. The other has more of a classical Seika form and represents a ship going home, bringing treasures from far away. Since this is a winter arrangement I've used very little materials.

Ikebana arrangements for New Years are usually not boat arrangements. As all seasonal ikebana they have their own flowers with symbolic meaning. Still - what can be more appropriate for New Years than an arrangement that carries all our wishes for a good year to come.

Tweet

Red and White for Christmas

The Spirit of Christmas.

It's been a snowy December, so I decided to go for a white and red themed Christmas ikebana this year. Silver painted Matsumata branches, pine, red Carnations and Baby's breath.

I'd like to thank all of my readers and contacts through 2010, and wish you all a happy holiday.

Tweet

Web Greetings

Through working with ikebana and writing this blog I have made new friends from around the world. We have never met, but we communicate and we exchange pictures and ideas.

This last year, Facebook has become a great meeting place for ikebana enthusiasts. Yesterday Hitoshi Inoue, one of my ikebana friends, sent me a greeting telling me that he had created three Christmas ikebana arrangements that he wanted me to see. Since the greeting was also to all of my friends, I'm reposting Hitoshi's artwork for you all.

If you are on Facebook you should visit the group simply named Ikebana, which I believe is the largest ikebana group on Facebook. There is also a Sogetsu Ikebana group, and several others.

Tweet

More Christmas

Branches with lichens, Poinsettia, Gypsophila and pine,

in a black wooden container.

Black and red, with a little dash of green makes a stylish colour scheme for Christmas. Add a silver or gold coloured ornament for a more festive look, and give the luxurious large roses a coating of glittery red metal threads. Pine is a symbol of long life, and driftwood and branches with lichens brings the good feelings of old traditions.

Black painted driftwood, roses, pine,

and Christmas ornament in a tall black vase.

This last arrangement I am not too fond of myself. It reminds me too much of the 1970's plastic decorations of my childhood. It would probably be a lot better with nicer candles though. Anyhow, it's an idea that you can work on if you like. All the materials are fixed on a large kenzan in the shallow bowl with water.

Dried salix, candles, pine, red carnations

and Christmas ornaments on a red glass bowl.

Tweet