about Sogetsu Ikebana


Ikebana, the art of Japanese flower arrangement, is believed to have evolved from Buddhist traditions of flower offering. Some time in the late 1400’s to early 1500’s, it eventually developed into an independent art form while still retaining its philosophical underpinnings.


Different from the Western notion of flower arrangement, Ikebana does not attempt to create beauty by amassing flowers in a bouquet.  Rather, it takes a more minimalist approach, endeavouring to create beauty through spatial and directional relationships among twigs, leaves and a smaller number of flowers. Traditionally, the arrangement seeks to depict three main points to symbolize heaven, earth, and man.


In present-day Japan, ikebana has branched out into many different schools ranging from the traditional with its more rigid structures to the modern with its more laissez-faire style.  Sogetsu Ikebana, founded in 1927, is one of the latter.  The practitioner, after having mastered basic concepts, is given a free hand to create his/her own space anywhere, using materials of his/her own choosing. The essence of Sogetsu Ikebana is to forge a harmony among the blossoms, the vessel, the ambience, the season, and the mood of the artist.  In doing so, he/she is able to bring about an aesthetic space, subtle and understated yet definitely palpable.


Click here to go to the official Sogetsu website.

 

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