Ikebana and us

The April 2023  Sogetsu Chennai     Ikebana workshop titled Inspired by Nature Venue/Date ABK Dosakai, Chennai on Sat, 20 April 2023 at 11 am Around 18 members attended the last workshop of the year 2023 before we took the customary summer break from April till June every year. The workshop began with a warm welcome from our Director Riji Mrs Malathi Pandurang. Our guest or the workshop Ms Mami Teraoka  distributed teachers certificates to Chitra Thyagarajan, Pushkala and Chitra Rajan and Level 1 and 2 certificates to Krishna. Mala Dhanasekaran had travelled to Galapagos a month ago. She gave us a glimpse of the unique volcanic island archipelago with its amazing flora and fauna, one of its kind in the world through a slide show. We were shown various exotic creatures such as tortoise, seal, iguana, penguins birds    and their adaptation to the surrounding environment. Inspired by the biodiversity the Ambika Chandrasekhar showcased two arrangements one...

March Workshop was held on 25th of March 2023.The theme for the workshop was Ikebana with unconventional material.We were honoured to have our  Chief guests for this workshop.   Deputy Consul General of Japan in Chennai, Mr. Miyata Kenji and his wife Mrs. Yumiko. The Vice Consul for Culture and Research in the Japanese Consulate,Ms. Mami Teraoka . Sensei Dr.K. Pushkala had put so much effort in creating her structures for the demonstration. Sensei Pushkala holds a doctorate in zoology. Composition I Theme: Darwin's theory of evolution-"Struggle for existence and survival of the  fittest" using Skewers (Unconventional material for Ikebana) Materials used:      Skewers      Chrysanthemum(green)      Statice (yellow)      Blue Daisy Flowers. Explanation The composition consists of 3 units asymmetrical to each other.      Unit I bigger in size to accommodate maximum struggle.    ...

  Members of the Ikebana Branch Chennai met for High Tea at Fisherman’s Cove. It was a wonderful time full of fun and frolic. The food was great and the members present enjoyed each other’s company. Thank you Malathi  Ma’am and friends for a lovely evening. Commemorating the Emperor’s birthday the Consulate of Japan in Chennai hosted a celebration at the Taj hotel on Feb23rd. Our Chairperson Mrs Pandurang was assisted by members in making two ikebana arrangements for this event.

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...

  Our December workshop was held on Saturday the 17th December at ABK and twelve members were present. Sensei Chitra Thiagarajan gave us a demonstration on variations 6,7,8. Sensei Chitra’s work was recently published In the book “Ikebanists around the world”. We congratulate her for the same. Sensei Chitra started off with the "combined style” using two ceramic vases.She used anthuriums and garden leaves. A cluster of  unripe bananas added beauty to the arrangement.Thus variation8 was effectively demonstrated by Sensei Chitra.                                            For demonstrating variation7 Sensei ChitraT had stacked an enamel platter with water on a glass bowl with water.  For this floating arrangement Chitra combined a lotus flower and garden leaves and a palm font.                         ...