Ikebana and us

 August 11, 2021 Sensei Dalley Verghese, a member of FLO - FICCI Ladies Organisation - was instrumental in our Sogetsu group's first public demonstration, since the start of the pandemic in 2020.  It was an exciting proposition. Riji Malathi, our Chairperson requested the teaching sensei of the group to accompany her and demonstrate the art.  The title of the demonstration was "Ikebana:  A Mindful Practice" . Sensei Dalley had a beautiful Ikebana composition to welcome all, at the entrance The event was organised at The Folly, in the Amethyst compound, and the morning started off with a little talk on bonsai before we started our demonstration. Riji Malathi introduced the art to the 20 odd members who were present in the hall.  Other FLO members as well as our Group members were present and viewing online. In her opening remarks, she emphasised the role of Line and Asymmetry as key to Ikebana, and the need to be one with the material and respond to it. We adhered to the C

 14th July 2021 18 members signed in to Google Meet for our first workshop for the new year.  Once again, we had to meet online, as Covid had raged in Chennai May and June, and while on downward trend in July, definitely still very active. The topic for our workshop was one of the lessons of book 5 - showing Lines at the base.  The demonstration was done by Sensei Divya, and our new sensei Chitra Rajan, from their respective homes. We began with sensei Divya.  She started with a classical Sogetsu ceramic compote, and worked an abstract composition using umbrella plant and anthuriums, displaying the lines at the base.  She began by placing the umbrella plant material in full length into her kenzan, and then bending it at the height that she desired.  This helped her to work quickly and efficiently. Her final composition, showing lines at the base Her second arrangement was also abstract, this time with bulrush and heliconia. The triangle of the vase beautiful mirrored in the triangles a