Ikebana and us

Sorry for this late post, but then better late than never isn't it?!  Here are the pictures from the no-kenzan workshop we had at Trishala's place, a couple of weeks ago. The pictures were taken from a phone-cam, so they do not do any justice to all the lovely arrangements, But anyway something is better than nothing! The early birds were all done and ready when we late-comers arrived, and so we did not witness their "struggle" to balance the material and achieve beauty without the convenience of a kenzan!  So, Trishala, Prerana, Seetha and Chitra sat smugly while the rest of us toiled at achieving this balance, combining the laws of gravity with aesthetics! Trishala  Trishala's arrangement went vertical, while Prerana took the horizontal route, both achieving grace in their lines, with the flowers adding a lovely focus. Prerana Seetha and Chitra decided to keep it low, and created these nice table arrangements. Seethalakshmi Chitra Molly took the branch lines tal

Here is an arrangement that I would create after I become an Ikebana Master. For now, it has been done by Iemoto Akane Teshigahara which she descries as "This is a colorful arrangement that emphasizes the soaring appearance of cosmos, a flower representative of autumn." Container: Glass vase Beautiful, isnt it ??

Here is an arrangement by Iemoto Akane. Perhaps the simplicity is the most complex thing about Ikebana ?? She describes this particular arrangement as "It sticks to lucid colors that emphasize the shape and originality of the gourd-shaped bamboo vase that was placed horizontally." Container: Bamboo vase

I am fascinated with arrangements with lotus flowers or leaves. Here is a lovely arrangement by Iemoto Akane. It is described as "A powerful lotus arrangement in a small jade vase, the pomegranate fruits give movement to the overall." The Container is a Jade vase.

Click on the pictures and enjoy a full-screen view.  Taken on my mobile phone.  The Flower is amazing, and it is no wonder that it holds a special place in Indian culture!