Ikebana and us

11t April Sensei Dalley is introduced by Sensei Malathi for her first teacher demonstration for our Study Group! Her second composition using leaves as and flowers as mass. ...

March 22nd, 2014. Sensei Valeria Raso Matsumoto and her group visited us from Auroville. She consented to give us a demonstration on "Techniques", and Dalley Verghese was our gracious hostess for a wonderful morning. She preferred to introduce herself to our members and that was done with a touch of humour Her daughter was a great assistant to her, not only to carry out the demonstration, but helped her by translating her words for us. Dalley had gone through meticulous arrangement to make sure we could all be accommodated. Members listened attentively as Valeria brought us many tips and nuances to add to our expressions. She prefers the minimal style in ikebana as it brings out the significance more aptly and did not have much to commend of the large and colourful contemperory ikebana seen everywhere! Valeria had interesting shapes of containers and it was remarkable how she had carefully packed them along with the leaves and other material...

ABK AOTS Dosokai had their annual Japan Festival between Friday 21st March and Sunday 23rd, at their own premises on Nelson Manickam Road. The Sogetsu Study Group was happy to participate and display Sogetsu Ikebana along with the Japanese dolls, origami and Bonsai exhibits.  There were also Judo demonstrations to attend as part of the festival. All of us assembled on the evening of the 20th to put up our arrangements, and since we each had to do just one piece, we were done fairly quickly! Here are the pieces we did, in no particular order.  For some of them, the wall or the curtain worked as a good background.  For others, we tried to use a black cloth background to highlight the arrangements. This is one area we need to improve upon - our photography and recording of our work, giving more focus on the lighting and the background. By Sensei Padma, in a wrought iron custom-made container Prerana's freestyle expression Pushkala's arra...

The Sogetsu study group is taking part in the Japan fest that starts tomorrow. 

18th February 2014. We gathered for our February meeting at ABK AOTS Dosokai where our senior member Sensei Padma Swaminathan took us through two lovely compositions, with her expressions of Valentine's Day. Padma sensei started off with a black Nagiere vase which was a little different with multiple openings at the mouth.  She used anthuriums in a striking rich red along with Baby's Breath. What resulted was this beautiful composition - which she dedicated to her wonderful, supportive family, whose love and support helped her through difficult times She then moved on to this metal container, from Indonesia, which has little containers inside, all with this same lovely design.  Sensei Padma said that there was no need to polish this as it maintained its gleam. This arrangement with wide palm leaves exemplified the love that she gets from her Ikebana world. The top view highlights the roses which stood for her Ikebana friends, wherever in the world ...