CHENNAI SOGETSU BRANCH ANNUAL EXHIBITION JAN 2023

The 12th Annual Ikebena exhibition of Chennai Sogetsu Branch took place at the Malayalee Club on 28th and 29th of January 2023.  The theme of the exhibition aptly titled “Man and Plants” gave the participants the opportunity to express their relationship with plants through creative free style Sogetsu Ikebana exhibits. The  exhibition was inaugurated by Mr Masayuki Taga, Consul General of Japan (Chennai).

During the inauguration ceremony on 28 Jan 2023 Mr Taga the chief guest spoke in length about the Indian poet and philosopher Rabindernath Tagore visit to Kobe, Japan and his short open Haiku on flowers. He mentioned that beauty lies in the heart of the flower. 

Other special guest Mr Berne Joann Jessie, curator Theosophical Museum, Adyar and Mr M R Ranganathan Chairman ABK, AOTS, DOSOKAI . Mr Johann Jessie spoke about the Ying and Yang principal of balance in nature and it’s application to Ikebana. Many Japanese officiers  from Japanese Consulate attended the event along with Mr Taga.

Around 40 exhibits  representative of  both classical and abstract style of Sogetsu Ikebana delighted the special guests and the steady stream of visitors who came in on both the day. The guests and were very appreciative of the arrangements which were examined in detail as they interacted with the artists. 

Mr Taga commented that seeing a live exhibition after a few  years of virtual shows was very rewarding. There was also a live stream on Facebook watched by many who could not attend. The photos of arrangements can be viewed by clicking on the link https://photos.app.goo.gl/CU9V5hHy99xVHA2a7