Ikebana and us

Jan 22nd. First meeting of the year at ABK AOTS Dosokai The Sogetsu Study Group Chennai reconvened after the year end holidays, in good numbers and in even better spirits! Our activities started off with a bang as our Chairperson sensei Malathi demonstrated some important aspects of artistic space and using the same container in several ways. It was a wonderful learning, and we all benefitted from this articulate and expressive session from her. Thirteen members were present. She began with a Nagiere  ceramic vase and her first composition contrasted thick and thin lines of the Dressina in her garden, with the yellow chrysanthemums providing a balance. Naturalistic expression With the same vase, and the same Dressina, Malathi sensei  created a completely different mood and experience, complementing the bold upside down lines, with a dramatic and bold Heliconia. Abstract expression With the same vase once again a different expression was created, by the use

18th December 2015 As we in Chennai heaved a sigh to see the floodwaters recede and life return to some normality, the Study Group decided to meet, just to heal and exchange notes. Several members had a lot of difficulty through the rains. Our sensei Molly had a harrowing time, with water entering and swamping her whole home. Eight members managed to gather on the 18th, at ABK AOTS Dosokai, and sensei Dalley, did two lovely arrangements in a freestyle demonstration. She had returned from the hills recently, and had some lovely peach blossom lines which she used in her first arrangement. Sensei Dalley emphasised line and artistic space in this exuberant arrangement, with a waste basket as a container, and peach blossom as line. In her second composition she used a terracotta vase, and emphasised the brown shades of the vase with the bark of a tree, once again from the hills.  the flowers provided a colour focus. Student Chitra Rajan practised during the workshop tim