Container Speak: Ikebana through the language of containers

“The essence of Ikebana lies in the relationship between the plant materials and the containers. By focusing on the container to be used, new ideas of composition may come to mind.” -  Akane Teshigahara on the importance of containers in Ikebana arrangements.

This relationship between plant materials and containers, and the immense potential for new ideas, was beautifully displayed in the Sogetsu workshop held on Saturday, October 25^th at 11 am at the ABK hall. 11 members attended.

Demos by the Senseis

Senseis Meenu and Chitra Thiagarajan demonstrated their skills at bringing the best out of containers in their arrangements.

Sensei Meenu started the workshop with a uniquely shaped black vase and arranged the materials - dried palm leaves sprayed with gold, a sunflower, and a dry philodendron leaf – to complement the shape of the vase. The rich hues of gold, brown, and yellow enhanced the beauty of the arrangement.

For her second demo, Sensei Meenu chose a rectangular orange vase. The interesting shape of the vase was enhanced with the linear and bent stalks of umbrella palms. Sprigs of white chrysanthemum added a contrast in colour.

Sensei Meenu and her arrangements | Left: Dried palm leaves sprayed with gold, a sunflower, and a dry philodendron leaf in a ceramic container. Right: Umbrella palms (bent) and a white chrysanthemum in a ceramic container

Chitra Thiagarajan was the second demonstrator. Her first arrangement focused on the circular shape of a round vase, with her materials thoughtfully chosen to complement the shape. The umbrella palm leaves and round lotus pods worked well with the container, as did the serrated lotus pods against the ridges of the vase. The round shaped white gerbera completed the harmony.

The second arrangement utilized eco-friendly egg cartons (one painted indigo blue) along with monstera and umbrella plant leaves, and pink gerberas. The monstera leaves were artistically trimmed to blend with the shape of the egg cartons.

Sensei Chitra and her arrangements | Top left: Fan palms, lotus pods, and a white gerbera in a ceramic blue container. Top right: Umbrella plant leaves, monstera leaves, and pink carnations on eco friendly egg cartons

Participant demos:

After the demos, the members were invited to showcase their arrangements. 

Left: Divya Selvam | Driftwood arranged in a crescent shaped container with a gerbera for contrast 

Right: Luna Bose | Painted sticks and chrysanthemums in fiberglass containers

Sensei Molly Cherian | Three small containers in a single arrangement to depict the overall shape of the containers. Caladium leaves and aglonema buds in a flat pot; curved branch of Song of India and jatropha flowers in a milk pot; variegated dracaena branch and small anthurium flower in a ring-like container

Left: Zeenath | Asparagus and dracaena leaves with a gerbera flower to emphasize the shape of the container, gypsophila flowers to add volume in a round basket container. Right: Sensei Prerana | Round red acrylic sheet, a sunflower, and a bunch of gypsophila in a circular-shaped container