Miyako’s Blog

Nocturne: Art at Night ノクターン：アートの夜

Wed, 20 Oct 2010 17:58:17 -0300

Until the day our little ikebana shop was finally transformed into gallery space, I had been filled with much doubt. We put away all the merchandise displayed in the centre and also all the books that had been lined up against one wall. We cleared away the distractions such that, from the entrance, people would have a clear view of the farthest corner. We were able to create a space that allowed a clean flow around the shop.

In the afternoon, my students came and we all went about our ikebana in silence. Strangely, though each person’s hands, eyes and mind were focused completely on her flower arrangement, I could clearly sense each person’s presence (like an aura) behind me, to the side of me. I was very happy to feel the “icchi-danketsu” (“united in one purpose”) among us. When we paused and exchanged words, we were talking like comrades-in-arm. There is no greater joy than this feeling!

It was a night that made me promise: as long as there are serious ikebana students, I will devote my best to offer guidance and encouragement.

[The ikebana exhibit was our contribution to Nocturne: Art at Night, an annual festival in Halifax where museums and galleries open their doors from 6:00 PM to midnight to celebrate art and culture.]

小さい生け花ショップがギャラリースペースになるのは当日まで信じられない気持ちでしたけれど
商品をごっそり片付けて、店の中央から、普段は本が並ぶ壁一面と、入り口から一番奥まで見通せるようにしてみるとなかなか人がうまく流れそうな空間が出来ました。

午後になると生徒さんがいらっしゃって黙々と花を生け始めました。不思議なもので、手も目も、頭も花に集中しているのですが、後ろや横で同じように真剣に生けている方達のオーラとでも申しましょうか、ビンビン伝わって来て『一致団結』している事がとても嬉しく、時折交わす言葉は同志の会話であり、それがこの上ない幸せに感じられたのです。

真剣に生け花に取り組む生徒さんがいらっしゃる限り、私も全力で指導に励み、精進して参りたいと誓った夜でした。

＊この生け花展示会は『ノクターン：アートの夜』の一部として参加したものです。『ノクターン：アートの夜』とは毎年ハリファックスで行われる行事で、午後６時から深夜１２時まで街中の美術館や画廊を一般開放しアートと文化を祝う祭りです。

NSCCD Workshop ワークショップ

Tue, 27 Apr 2010 13:54:51 -0300

I just finished an ikebana workshop at the NSCCD (Nova Scotia Centre for Craft and Design). “It looks easy but really it is not!” remarked one participant. Ikebana might look simple because one is working with very few flowers. But it is precisely because of the scarcity of material that makes it difficult. There is nowhere to hide [mistakes]. All the participants took to the challenge purposefully.

Ikebana is not simply sticking the branches and stems in the correct angles into the kenzan. There is a lot more to consider such as the direction of the petals, the line of a branch, the harmony between container and flowers, etc. As the ikebanista begins to consider all these elements, slowly, imperceptibly she enters a world consisting only of herself and the plant material. The room [at the NSCCD] was very, very silent.

The placement of the 3 main branches greatly affects the resulting arrangement. In a good ikebana arrangement, the connection between artist and arrangement can be felt strongly, as if the arrangement has been speaking to the artist. To the workshop participants, I hope you continue to enjoy ikebana.

[All arrangements in the photos are by the workshop participants. Scroll down all the way to the bottom to see one more photo!]

NSCCDで生け花ワークショップを行いました。参加者の一人の女性が，『簡単そうに見えるけど、難しいのね』と言っていました。少ない花材で生けるから簡単に見えたのでしょう。少ないからこそごまかすものがなくて難しいのだと思います。参加して下さった方々は皆さん、集中して取り組んでいらっしゃいました。

規定通りの角度で剣山に刺しただけでは生け花とはなりません。花びらの向き、枝の線、花器との調和など、細かく欠かせない要素がたくさんあります。ですから、生ける時は知らず知らずに植物と自分だけの世界に入ってしまい、部屋はしーんと静まってしまいます。

三本の主枝が生け花の出来を大きく左右します。上手く出来た作品は、生け手に話しかけて来るような、生け手と生け花の間に力強い連帯感を感じることができます。どうぞ、家でも楽しみながら生け花を続けてください。　

No-Flower Ikebana 花無し生け花

Mon, 12 Apr 2010 08:45:31 -0300

For my most recent arrangement, the request was:“No flowers.” In other words, use only branches and leaves. In the past, I had had clients who had preferred “minimum flowers” but a request to use absolutely zero flowers was not common.

When flowers are used [in ikebana], the focal point of the arrangement naturally falls on the blooms. But without the flowers, the arrangement should show interesting lines and curves. [I kept three points in mind while designing the arrangement:] Shaping the arrangement to best portray the characteristics of the branches, choosing the appropriate container, and making sure the arrangement fit the given space perfectly. I think the result was a light-hearted arrangement that’s just right for spring. And since the arrangement was to be displayed for 2 weeks, having flowers in it would have been quite difficult.

Spring arrived early in Halifax this year. My spirit is cheerful!

今回いただいたアレンジメントの依頼は、お花なしで、というものでした。つまり、枝とグリーンだけで、お願いします、とのこと。シンプルに、花は少なめに、とおっしゃる方はいますが、全く使わずに、というのは珍しいです。

花があれば必然にフォーカルポイントが花になってきますけれど、花無しとなると、線の面白さを見せられるような・・・と考えました。生け花では枝ものだけで生けることもあります。その枝の特徴を十分に生かしてあげられるような生け方と花器を選ぶ事、そしてそれが生ける空間に最適なもの。春にふさわしい軽妙な作品に仕上がったと思います。とある会場に2週間飾られますので、やはり花があっては難しいですね．

今年のハリファックスは早い春の訪れで、心が弾みます。