Winter Magic: Sogetsu Ikebana

This exhibition will showcase floral arrangements by Sogetsu Ikebana artists based in Sydney. Australia is home to an abundant variety of winter foliage that is beautiful yet often overlooked, from deciduous trees through to subtropical flowers.

The Japanese art of flower arrangement has a long history that can be traced back to the 6th century Japan when Buddhist priests prepared floral offerings for the Buddhist altar. At the time there were no strict rules on how flowers were to be arranged. However, over time new approaches to flower arrangement were developed and eventually led to various techniques, styles and the overall philosophy behind ikebana.

In Sogetsu, ikebana is a reflection of the artist’s individuality regardless of their skill. Unlike some schools of ikebana, the Sogetsu style allows whatever material available to be used and you will often see natural and manmade materials combined in unexpected ways. One of the differentiating factors of Sogetsu is its philosophy—it is a lifestyle that can be appreciated by people around the world, rather than being an exclusive part of Japanese culture.

Images:  © Sandra Marker