Ceramics and Pottery Arts and Resources

 

Birch branches and Cymbidium

The Nordic Lotus Ikebana Blog

 

 

 

Fruiting branch with NZ flax  —  Pat’s Ikebana

Qld, 2016

The traditional practice of the art of Ikebana was always approached with a mindfulness of the inner sublimity and is also known by the name ‘ofkado’ (way of flowers). Being originally developed by practicing temple monks, the spirit of ikebana has survived the centuries since its beginning and is embedded in Japanese culture. I have included a collection of ikebana arrangements from the Queensland Sogetsu ikebanist Pat Mackie, some examples from the Japanese artist Kawase Toshiro and ikebana created with ceramic vessels from the German ceramicist Jochen Ruth. Additional ceramic vessels that can be used for ikebana arrangements are also featured as well as some Indonesian ikebana form Lusy Wahyudi and friends.

 

Kawase Toshiro ikebana, Japan

Spatial awareness is altered by our higher consciousness, which has a distinct and tangible perspective, and this zone is infused into the aesthetic composition of ikebana. The inner calm of meditation flows from a deconstruction of the habitual clutter of the mind and ikebana became a visual metaphor for this refined state of consciousness. Observation of the innate beauty of the natural world from a heightened perspective was also a key influence and encapsulating this into a simple artistic statement was an integral component of ikebana flower arrangement.

 

Dick Lehman pottery

 

The Japanese arts in general have been derived from similar influences to the approach with the ikebama arts and the subtle appreciation of balance and space is ever present. In Zen philosophy there are seven aesthetic principles for achieving Wabi-Sabi.
Yugen: subtly profound grace, not obvious, Seijaku: tranquility. Datsuzoku: unbounded by convention, free, Fukinsei: asymmetry, irregularity. Kanso: simplicity. Koko: basic,.weathered, Shizen: without pretense, natural.
It’s easy to see these qualities also evoked in the ikebana arts.The beauty of ikebana exists as a subtle reminder of the depth of aesthetics and balance in nature and is a fine vehicle for reflecting this with indoor decoration.

 

 

‘Flower Arranging and Tea Ceremony’ – Toyohara Chikanobu (Japanese 1838-1912)

1895

During the Kamakura period (1192 ~ 1333) Ikebana became a form of meditation for Zen Buddhist priests. Floral offerings were placed in front of altars to honor the Buddha and the souls of the dead. These offerings evolved into floral arrangements designed to express the subtle harmony between spirit and matter. Arrangements were originally composed of three main lines of differing height together creating a three dimensional form – the balance between the lines symbolizing the unity between spirit, man and earth.

 

 

Japanese Samurai warrior painting

The warrior class or ‘Samurai’ brought great lifestyle changes to Japanese society during the Kamakura period, making it fashionable to display Ikebana arrangements in the homes of wealthy townsmen. Samurai would create Ikebana not merely as a flower arrangement but a short-lived structure reflecting man’s own mortality.

“Ikebana is a form of sculpture that exists only within a limited time span, transforms from moment to moment, then perishes.” — Akane Teshigahara

Samurai would live and die like an Ikebana form but their spirit was believed to be eternal. To reach a state of concentration and become centred, Ikebana was consistently performed by Samurai prior to going into battle. Through this connection with nature, the heart and mind were believed to be purified. Ikebana went on to gain substantial respect and appreciation by the imperial and military leaders of Japan in the Momoyama period (1573~1603), celebrated amongst the Samurai.

new.uniquejapan.com/origins-of-ikebana

 

Ikebana arrangement by Gunter Black, Australia, ceramic vessel by Jochen Ruth

 

 

Ikebana Ikenobo Rikka Shimputai by Lusy Wahyudi, Indonesia

 

 

Japanese Suzeki Stone

 

 

 

Ikebana Ikenebo Rikka Shimputai—Linda Prasasto

 

 

Akira Satake ikebana vase

 

Aya Sogetsu school of ikebana

 

 

 

Bauhiinia tree ikebana — One Kind of Branch—2013

 

 

Bitter melon and Chilli   — Pat’s Ikebana

 

Ikebana Ikenobo Rikka Shimputai by Lusy Wahyudi, Indonesia

Lusy Wahyudi – Flickr

 

 

Ikebana Ikenobo Rikka Shimputai by Lusy Wahyudi, Indonesia

 

 

Goro Suzuki ikebana vessel

 

 

Ikebana Ikenob Jhiyuka — Yohanus Wemphy

 

Ikebana Ikenobo Rikka Shimputai by Lusy Wahyudi, Indonesia

 

 

Bromeliad and leaves ikebana — Pat Mackie

Pat’s Ikebana, 2016

 

 

‘Bromeliad leaves and blossom’ — Pat’s Ikebana

2016

 

 

Bunjin arrangement – Margot Wang

The Bunjin Arrangement is not bound by floral styles, and materials may be freely arranged to express one’s subjective view of plants.  Emphasis is placed on the elegance and poetic nature of rare blooms, shrubs and plants.

 

 

‘Dark silence in suburbia’ – Yo Akiyama

 

 

Dineke Beereboom — ‘Two Of A Kind’

 

 

Emily Katz ikebana

Pura Vida Peartree workshop

 

 

‘Eucalyptus branches and Bougainvillea’ – Pat’s Ikebana

2015

 

 

Small vintage celadon vase

 

 

 

‘Gold Bullion Tokkuri’ vessel – Ryota Aoki

 

 

Green Arrangement – Pat’s Ikebana

2015

 

Bizen stoneware vase, with the characteristic reddish hidasuki or “fire-marked” pattern,

 

 

‘From the Wind’~ Bonsai (盆栽) by Vaclav Novak – Fukinagashi Pinus uncinata

 

 

Ovoid Honda aluminium die cast vessel adapted to an  Ikebana display

Utsuwanote

 

 

Ikebana display by Anita Haase Schönbeck, Berlin with ceramic vessel by Jochen Ruth

Jochen Ruth Ceramics

 

Ikebana by Mario Hirama, Japan

 

 

Calla lily, pine and bamboo stick

 The Nordic Lotus Ikebana Blog

 

 

Ikebana arrangement by Gunter Black, Jochen Ruth vase

 

 

Spring blooms ikebana  – Magnolia, snapdragon and succulents

2017

 

Ikebana by Gunter Black, Jochen Ruth vessel

 

 

Ikebana by Hans Riester, Berlin & ceramic vessel by Jochen Ruth

 

 

Ikebana floral arrangement by Hans Riester,Berlin — ceramic vase by Jochen Ruth

 

 

Ikebana by Karin Kopp, Ritterhude & Jochen Ruth ceramic vessel

 

 

Ikebana by Karin Kopp & Jochen Ruth ceramic vessel

 

 

Red Zen  ikebana vase –  Georgetown Pottery

 

 

Ikebana by Truus Esther-(Otomodachi)

 

 

Ikebana Ikenebo Rikka Shimputai—Lusy Wahyudi

 

 

Ikebana  ‘On the way to the top’ (Otomodachi)

 

 

Ikenobo arrangement with pink blossoming flowers – Otomodachi

 

 

Starry Night  ikebana vase –  Georgetown Pottery

 

 

 

James Oughtibridge sculptural vase

 

 

Japanese Red Maple bonsai

Moss and Stone Gardens

 

 

Jochen Ruth

 

 

Katsunori Sawa

 

 

Kurokawa Tōru — Ceramic sculpture vessel

Mirviss Gallery

 

 

Flat round incised vessels – Lamella

 

 

Hanamai Ikebana – Amaryllis, Aspedistra, Sibirian Dogwood

The Nordic Lotus Ikebana Blog

 

 

Leaves only in horizontal arrangement — Pat’s Ikebana

2015

 

 

Mihara Ken

 

 

 

Pat’s Ikebana

2013

 

 

‘Vine and giant Allium’ – Pat’s Ikebana

2016

 

‘Bromeliad and leaves’ – Pat’s Ikebana

 

 

Peter Voulkos ceramic ovoid vessel

 

‘Poinchiana Podas and Ixora’ — Pats Ikebana

2015

 

 

Raku Vase Mountain carved — Blue Spruce Pottery

 

 

Kawase Toshiro Red Blossom ikebana, Japan

 

 

Shino Suzuku vase —Goro Suzuki

 

 

 

 

‘Straight Lines’ – Pat’s Ikebana

2016

 

 

Corylus avelana contorta, the twisted hazelnut ikebana

 

 

Shoka shimputai ikebana – Lusy Wahyudi

 

Zen garden – Tokyotimes

 

 

 

Kawase Toshiro ikebana, Japan

 

 

‘Gold forest in high mountain’ – Suseki Gohua stone

 

 

Ikebana arrangement

 

 

Wood fired Vase by Shiho Kanzaki, Japan

 

 

Ikebana display – The Nordic Lotus Ikebana Blog

 

 

 

Poinchiana Pods construction- Pat’s Ikebana

2015

 

Ikebana ‘Leaping salmon’ by Otomodachi (flickr)

 

 

‘Walking Iris and lilly’ – Pat’s ikebana

2016

 

 

Wattle and Anthurium  – Pat’s Ikebana

2016

 

‘Woody Pear and Ixora’ –  Pat’s Ikebana

2016

 

 

 

Japanese Yakuza tattoo figure

 

Yasuhisa Kohyama ceramic ikebana vessel

 

 

‘Black Pottery–Moon Trip’  — Yoshihiro Kunikata

 

 

Pavel Zamikhovsky 2011

 

Floral Ikebana – Mai Van Thai Thomas

 

 

Ikebana ‘Red and pink fireworks’  cascading Ohara style by Otomodachi

 

 

 

Ikebana Rikka-Shimputai by Lusy Wahyudi

 

 

The Nordic Lotus Ikebana Blog