Ikebana and us

 March 20th 2021 Sixteen members of the Chennai Sogetsu Study Group were connected via Google Meet to explore further the concept of line, as an art principle.  We were delighted to have Mr Saravanan from Cholamandal as a participant in this dialogue with Riji sensei Malathi.  He is a painter and sculptor, working with acrylic and metal relief as well.  Exposed to art since childhood, as scion of M. Senathipathi, one of the prominent artists of the Madras Art Movement, he has been exhibiting his work from 1995 onwards. “My father M Senathipathi, an eminent artist of the Madras Art Movement, is my mentor. He is the president of Cholamandal Artists Village. As a child, I remember travelling from my home in Saidapet to the studio at Cholamandal Artists Village where my father worked. The ambience and watching the workmanship of senior artists made a huge impact on me. This motivated me to pursue art as a full-fledged passion,” he shared, in a press interview. Mr Saravan...

 Feb 20th 2021 15 members gathered online via Google Meet for our February monthly meeting.  We looked forward to our recently qualified teacher, Sensei Pushkala's debut demonstration.  The theme was Colour Focus. Sensei Dalley graciously invited Sensei Pushkala to use the space in her home as a venue for her creations. Sensei Pushkala looked composed and confident as she began her demonstration with an arrangement in a wooden bark that was opened on both sides.   Banyan roots connected the bark, and the red anthuriums were clearly a contrast to the brown of the bark and the roots. The academic scientist in sensei Pushkala was evident in her observatioon that, "this composition is made to have an appearance of an EYE .The visual perception is conducted by the optic nerve (copper rod) and processed in the brain." For her second arrangement, sensei Pushkala chose to focus on yellow.   Her composition in combination vases - ceramic moribana and glass nagiere - used...

 23rd January 2021 The invitation for our online exhibition The pandemic and lockdown has made everyone adapt, and so also we at the Chennai Sogestu Study Group.  With the last six months of virtual meetings under our belt, it was now time to attempt an online exhibition as well.  There was much excitement and activity in the Study Group at the start of the year, as we readied ourselves for the online exhibition.  This was a completely different experience, this year.  We missed the in-person camaraderie and laughs, the hauling of buckets, material and vases, the last minute changes we would have to make to our compositions depending upon the materials we got, and of course the everlasting joy of seeing the arrangements in person. Instead, there were a whole new set of skills we all learnt!  Everyone understood the importance of photography, clear backgrounds, good angles, and how to stay connected and communicate through Whatsapp, phone and email! We did a...