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Ikebana Delight

Published:Sunday | December 23, 2012 | 12:00 AM
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An elegant minimalist arrangement, also by Kawana.
Master Kawana is assembling branches to make them stand without support.
Master Kawana assisted by Pauline Milbourn (partly hidden), president of Ikebana International, St Andrew Chapter, and Joy Jones (right), head of the Sogetsu School in Jamaica.
Yasuo Takase (right), ambassador of Japan, poses with members of his diplomatic team (from left) Keri Teshinahara, Sogetsu master, Kawana, and Sayoko Takase, wife of the ambassador, at an ikebana demonstration at The Knutsford Court Hotel, Kingston.
A delightful arrangement done by Tetsunori Kawana, Sogetsu master.
Ikebana demonstration by Kawana. He is being assisted by Joy Jones, head of Sogetsu School in Jamaica.
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A recent ikebana demonstration by Sogetsu Master Tetsunori Kawana received rave reviews from more than 200 ikebana enthusiasts who were treated to 10 unique arrangements composed of flora sourced from Jamaican gardens.

Natural materials used in the arrangements included the branches, fruits and flowers of naseberry, otaheite apple, wall ivy, torch lily, red ginger, bougainvillea, brain cactus, and pomegranate.

"Ikebana literally means 'living flowers', and therefore it is an art of reconstructing a life with flowers and other natural materials such as branches and leaves," remarked Japanese ambassador to Jamaica, Yasuo Takase, bringing greetings from the embassy.

The Sogetsu ikebana demonstration, held recently at The Knutsford Court Hotel, was organised by the Japanese Embassy in association with Ikebana International.

Ikebana is a Japanese art of flower arrangement and Sogetsu is one of the major schools of ikebana. Master instructor Tetsunori Kawana, an internationally acclaimed artist and teacher at the Sogetsu School, who has received many awards for his ikebana and bamboo artistry that includes the prestigious Sogetsu Award, led the demonstration.

Kawana skilfully deployed the unique technique of creating displays with the materials from behind the arrangement at all times. This enabled the audience to observe the process from beginning to completion.

One arrangement which was of particular delight to the audience was a technique of assembling branches so that they remained standing without any support.

The demonstration was made possible by the Japan Foundation, a public institution which aims to promote cultural exchange between Japan and other countries.