Ikebana and us

An exhibition with the theme "Welcome Treat in the Cherry Blossoms Season" was held at the "Toraya Gallery" in Tokyo from March 12th to 17th. It was a collaboration with Toraya, makers of Wagashi, the traditional Japanese Confectionery. Iemoto Akane Teshigahara created many beautiful works using Seven kinds of Sakura( cherry blossoms) and spring flowers. It sure was a treat for all the senses!! Here are some pictures ! By the way, Wagashi is the traditional Japanese confectionery. It does not merely encompass a single group of confection; the art of Japanese confectionery owes its diversity in large part to its ingredients and methods of preparation. Toraya is one of the oldest makers of traditional confectionery in Japan. According to an archive, Toraya was already supplying confectionery to the Imperial Family in the 16th century as it still does today. From the earliest times to the present day, the ownership of Toraya has passed directly from generation to gen...

Venkatesh posted some pictures from the Japan week earlier, here. Here are some more... The Japanese version of our " dhrishti pushnikai "? Another guardian Rimpa The Ohara School in Chennai also participated and had a lovely corner. Above, is a Rimpa style arrangement, related to the Rimpa style of painting in Japan, from what I coud gather, from the write-up next to the arrangement. The decorative qualities of the materials used are captured. Water reflecting style The literature read, "  In this style the subject is placed to slant over the container and cast its reflection on the surface of the water.  it is called the Water reflecting style because the Subject, the Secondary and the Object are arranged so a wide surface of water is visible " Bunjin My photo cut off the literature, but searching on the 'net, I discovered that this style is based on the Chinese art of painting, and looks to highlight the poetic and elegant nature of one's material. Real...

"> I came across this interesting Ikebana video on You Tube. This is from the Kadou Enshu School of Ikebana in Japan. This technique is perhaps not used in our Sogetsu School. However, we can see it for academic sake :). Courtesy : www.kadouenshu.com

Here is Iemoto Akane's arrangement of March 2009. She describes it as "Alocasia odora leaf seems to resonate against the rotundity of the ceramic bowl. Magnolia quinquepeta augments the warm feeling." Materials : Magnolia quinquepeta, Alocasia odora Vase : Ceramic bowl Size : 76×95×78cm Courtesy : http://www.sogetsu.or.jp/english/exhibition/index.html [[ I am working on the Auroville Trip write up. Till I post, enjoy this one ]]

Japan Cultural Week was celebrated at the Lalita Kala Academy, Chennai. It included Japanese Dolls Exhibition and Tea Ceremony. Some members of the Sogetsu Chennai Study Group did Ikebana arrangements as well. Here are some Pictures. By Vaishali Vaishali Meenu Molly Meenu

His Holiness The Dalai Lama visited Auroville. On this occasion, Sensei Valeria did Many Ikebana arrangements to welcome Him. Here are some pictures. (Please click on them for bigger ones). Thank you Sensei. Nice arrangement The Golden Disk of the Matri Mandir (in the background) is used as a vase. Sensei & the monks giving the finishing touch at the Buddha Altar Another arrangement One more Ikebana Sensei at work Finished arrangement The Dalai Lama

Here is another beautiful Ikebana work of Sensei Valeria.