A hybrid demonstration - Ikebana: A Mindful Practice

 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 Covid protocols, maintaining our masks through the demonstrations.

Sensei Malathi began with a pond scene, created with
Birds Nest Fern and Periwinkle - simple everyday material in a 
ceramic suiban.

Her second composition was a demonstration of abstract
Sogetsu Ikebana, highlighting the ceramic Nagiere vase with a split
and using a Monstera leaf, large Hydrangeas and 
umbrella reed and an Alamanda branch, with gold accents.

It was then Sensei Molly's turn, who also showed that one can create beautiful Ikebana with material from the surroundings.

Sensei Molly used a baking dish as a Moribana container.
Using the stalks of the Curry Leaf plant painted black, she brought drama
and Lines to this classical moribana composition, with
Jerberas, Gypsofilia and leaves and flowers from her garden to complete.

Sensei Meenu, then demonstrated how one can use Ikebana to create drama, and bring a festive feel to the space it adorns.  She brought along natural material - that viewers were curious about - Coconut spats and woven papaya!

Sensei Meenu's combination vases to create a larger, more dramatic
composition, with Strelitsia, hanging Heliconia, chrysanthemums and 
Gyspofilia, Coconut spats, Woven papaya and cane with white paper
as also Bottle brush.

Sensei Ambika then spoke about her journey  these last few months with a ceramic vase that she loves, and challenges her with its narrow mouth.

Using a dried Henna branch from her garden pot and dried
roots from chilli plants, she complimented it with a single spray of
Chrysanthemum and some ibericum berries to create an
earthy composition, complementing the shape of the vase and the colours.

Sensei Malathi then came back with her last arrangement in a traditional urali.

A traditional Indian container highlighting a Japanese art, with 
Lilies, carnations, largestroemia branches, Kale and 
Gypsofilia.

The demonstrators were ably helped by Sensei Chitra Rajan, in moving the arrangements and providing the materials.  She can be seen in this group picture in between Sensei Molly and Sensei Malathi.

The Sogetsu group with the FLO ladies

The internal workshop theme was set as "A Pond scene", and you can see the arrangements created by our members in this link.