Ikebana and us

 April 24th 2021 14 members participated in the workshop focussing on Movement.  As Covid number rose again in the second wave in Chennai, further restrictions on movement have been imposed.   Members made do with materials they found around them, combining dry, unnatural and local material, in such a creative fashion, that one would not even realise the fact that they were working under constraints. Movement was an apt theme, for the month when our human movement was once again restricted! The arrangements can be viewed in detail here. Here are some screenshots of the compositions. The Study Group now closes for the summer, and we will resume in June, by which time, we hope the pandemic has abated and we are all vaccinated. Good luck to us all, as we try to stay safe, and stay home.

 March 20th 2021 Sixteen members of the Chennai Sogetsu Study Group were connected via Google Meet to explore further the concept of line, as an art principle.  We were delighted to have Mr Saravanan from Cholamandal as a participant in this dialogue with Riji sensei Malathi.  He is a painter and sculptor, working with acrylic and metal relief as well.  Exposed to art since childhood, as scion of M. Senathipathi, one of the prominent artists of the Madras Art Movement, he has been exhibiting his work from 1995 onwards. “My father M Senathipathi, an eminent artist of the Madras Art Movement, is my mentor. He is the president of Cholamandal Artists Village. As a child, I remember travelling from my home in Saidapet to the studio at Cholamandal Artists Village where my father worked. The ambience and watching the workmanship of senior artists made a huge impact on me. This motivated me to pursue art as a full-fledged passion,” he shared, in a press interview. Mr Saravan...

 Feb 20th 2021 15 members gathered online via Google Meet for our February monthly meeting.  We looked forward to our recently qualified teacher, Sensei Pushkala's debut demonstration.  The theme was Colour Focus. Sensei Dalley graciously invited Sensei Pushkala to use the space in her home as a venue for her creations. Sensei Pushkala looked composed and confident as she began her demonstration with an arrangement in a wooden bark that was opened on both sides.   Banyan roots connected the bark, and the red anthuriums were clearly a contrast to the brown of the bark and the roots. The academic scientist in sensei Pushkala was evident in her observatioon that, "this composition is made to have an appearance of an EYE .The visual perception is conducted by the optic nerve (copper rod) and processed in the brain." For her second arrangement, sensei Pushkala chose to focus on yellow.   Her composition in combination vases - ceramic moribana and glass nagiere - used...

 23rd January 2021 The invitation for our online exhibition The pandemic and lockdown has made everyone adapt, and so also we at the Chennai Sogestu Study Group.  With the last six months of virtual meetings under our belt, it was now time to attempt an online exhibition as well.  There was much excitement and activity in the Study Group at the start of the year, as we readied ourselves for the online exhibition.  This was a completely different experience, this year.  We missed the in-person camaraderie and laughs, the hauling of buckets, material and vases, the last minute changes we would have to make to our compositions depending upon the materials we got, and of course the everlasting joy of seeing the arrangements in person. Instead, there were a whole new set of skills we all learnt!  Everyone understood the importance of photography, clear backgrounds, good angles, and how to stay connected and communicate through Whatsapp, phone and email! We did a...

 17th December 2020 The Study Group, now very familiar with our online meetings and workshops, gathered via Google Meet to attend an online demonstration by Sensei Dalley Verghese, followed by our workshop from our homes. 21 members were able to attend, and we were in for a treat. Sensei Dalley began her demonstration with a colour focus of rust/orange, which also matched beautifully with the sari she was wearing!  The moribana container supported two beautiful bamboo lines with the chrysanthemum masses to balance. Sensei Dalley titled her piece as "Togetherness".  Bamboo tendrils and imperial chrysanthemums in a moribana ceramic vase The second piece was quite different.  Sensei Dalley placed a blue ceramic compote in a flat blue tray, and aimed to create a blue colour focus.  She created blue Masses with daisies, to complement the vase and the tall white agapanthus was used as contrast, in this naturalistic style composition. "Happy Family" by Sensei Dalley Ve...

 Saturday 21st November 2020 The Chennai Sogetsu Study Group continued with our online monthly meetings.  We used Google Meet as always, to get together at 11 am on the 21st, for an online demonstration by our sensei Divya, who chose to work with baskets - natural woven ones. 24 members tuned in including our new members Suneela, Susan, Sumi,  Niloufer and Rupa, who were introduced by their respective teachers.  The Study Group is delighted to have new additions and we all hope to meet in person soon!   Sensei Divya connected from her home and brought us three lovely, elegant arrangements.  In her trademark quiet, smiling and confident manner, sensei Divya explained about the materials and the baskets. For her first composition she used a deep basket and placed another container within to hold water and help keep the materials in place.  Emphasizing and incorporating the basket weave into the arrangement, the materials were used low and along the rim, ...

 10th October 2020 18 members tuned in to our online Google Meet monthly meeting at 11am on this Saturday, to enjoy a different kind of experience.  Sensei Malathi requested members to ask all their doubts that they may have regarding the art of Ikebana. After a few minutes of Hellos, greetings and ensuring that all except the questioner had their mikes off, we began.  Below is a summary of the questions, and answers.  While it was a more elaborate discussion, captured here is the essence of the response. Prerana :  Please explain what is artistic space in an Ikebana arrangement. Ans: Space, or the absence of material, is in itself an important part of an Ikebana arrangement.   The space between main lines and jushis is important as a beginner but taking advantage of space as part of your arrangement as you advance, defines an ikebana arrangement.  Incorporating space improves the aesthetics of the arrangement, I can say, and it also allows for the vi...