Sogetsu Ikebana Awakening

Sogetsu Sydney/NSW Exhibition – December 2021

‘Sogetsu Ikebana Awakening’ is an exhibition by Ikebana artists to celebrate or ‘awaken’ from the confinement of the past eighteen months due to COVID-19.

Unfortunately we had to postpone then cancel the planned ‘Celebrate 60’ conference of Sogetsu Ikebana in Australia and New Zealand. From adversity there is always a ray of sunshine and new opportunities. Sogetsu/Sydney NSW invited Ikebana artists to participate in the virtual exhibition ‘Sogetsu Ikebana Awakening’.

Please enjoy viewing the exhibition of ‘Awakening’ to happier times.

SOGETSU AWAKENING – Virtual exhibition

Aileen Duke

The pandemic has wrought devastation, sorrow and fear, and kept us physically apart from loved ones, friends and colleagues. However, there is a small silver lining that has brought me joy: the Sogetsu Ikebana community globally has embraced new ways of connecting, learning and sharing in an expanding virtual world.
In the past two years, I have met, laughed with, taught and learned from ikebana artists all over the globe.I have viewed and participated in workshops, demonstrations, classes and virtual exhibitions. My life, and my ikebana, have been greatly enriched in so many way s by the shared love of Sogetsu Ikebana

Akemi Suzuki

Under COVID-19 circumstances, all of us have been separated in so many ways.
Practicing  Sogetsu Ikebana gives me power to endure the tough times and hope for the future!  

Alexander Evans

To see at every turn, the myriad of possibilities which surround us in each passing moment, tantalising whispering without words, in a language of flowers, Awaken!

Bernard Tay

“To me it expresses that every arrangement that I create should bring life and  this life is to be enjoyed by everyone.”

Chinara Munduzbaeva

Ikebana develops a sense of harmony and being in this wonderful art devoted me to find beauty that is combined with the whole world…
In his article “Creativity’ Sofu Teshigahara wrote tat art is designed to keep moving from one to another without stopping at a certain point. Sogetsu School is as the symbol of constancy like the flow of water. As long as it is flowing, it is always alive … if it is blocked, if we are set on just one point, Sogetsu-Ryu will lose all its significance
No matter how many decades you have been engaged in this art but the there is awls a mystery in flowers. Ikebana is alive and every time it is an Awakening!

Christopher James

After these many days over two years, of being confined to our homes, missing the face to face contact with colleagues and the stimulus of interaction we look forward to sharing our love for the natural world as expressed through ikebana. I am hungry to see the explosion of Sogetsu Ikebana that will excite, delight, console and comfort as we move forward into the a future we had no anticipated.

Daria Yazeva

Breaking the canyons, going to perfection, the sou of a stranger strives air will in a new reality unseen by the work. Giving up the routine, he will fill a leaf a branch, a piece of paper with his soul, add the colour of the sky and a ray of sun. And so imperceptibly the unearthly soul in its perfection will awaken in the work. It will awaken in a new, previously invisible format, volume,..And the lines will not be directly accepted as something simple, with a blurry gaze they will not touch the creation the living.
Te ability to use all kinds of material around us and give us a unique state in the moment is always an unforgettable feeling. Working with one thing for a long time, we stop seeing their potential of this material or believe that we know everything about it, and put it off, forget bout it, do not sell valet this , we get tired of it and want something new. For me “awakening” is a new look. A new look a what we see everyday, what we use every day , here and now.What ’s in your hands? Smartphone? What can you do with it? Much. And even more of which you have not thought now. ‘Awakening Sogetsu” – an opportunity to see the new and show in way what has become ‘ordinary’

Deb Dibley

“The joy of coming out of lockdown to practice Sogetsu with like-minded souls – freedom, fun and awakening more creativity in our changed world.”

Dee Mosca

Elana Sharkova

Awakening is happiness!
Awakening is bold step!
Awakening is a reality!
The Teacher bequeathed this way!
Awakening is lunar gift!
We must remember this!
And my art –
To awaken the hearts of people on Earth!

Elizabeth Angell

Here in Victoria we have had the longest down of any state, our Sogetsu workshops and exhibitions have been cancelled and some workshops have been on-line with materials you can gather from your garden or friends.
I look at this Exhibition ‘Sogetsu Awakening’ as coming out into a wonderful world of creativity from all the Sogetsu members in New South Wales and the other states.
It gives us something to think about in the difficult time ion COVID and hope that the future will be brighter and Sogetsu Ikebana will flourish in the years to come

Elizabeth Fuller

Emily Karanikolopoulos

It has been 30 years since I started learning ikebana and in that time it has become a vital part of my everyday life
As the Sogetsu curriculum continues to evolve, the more recent addition of sculptural work has ‘awakened’ in me a desire or, even, a need to create sculptures. As a result, I made a number of large, outdoor metal sculptures and have collaborated with the riots John Meade in the creation of the piece, ‘Love Flower’, a 10 metre tall street sculpture

Eugenia Chudacek

In need ion Awakening!
Being in isolation for 265 days in Metro Melbourne and its harsh restrictions impacted on one’ emotional wellbeing, this includes loss of motivation, inspiration and creativity in practising Ikebana
What a blessing to have ‘Friendship through Flowers’ and to be part of a group, of
like-minded people.  I feel Ikebana allowed us to escape reality, even for a while, and focus on friendships formed through its connection whilst maintaining contact and supporting each other through troubled times, this support revitalised our mutual love of Ikebana and slowly, restoring the lost passion.

Evangeline Cheng

Sogetsu encourages me to think out of the box in my creations, especially with using unconventional materials.

Farah Fazina Rauf

Sogetsu Awakening to me is the realisation of a Sogetsu style ikebana through the use of materials in a unique form of expression. A Sogetsu Ikebana artist is able to practice this art and create without limitations to material, form and space.

Hiroko Prado

Irina Galkina

Awakening is when you hear the sound of the wind in the street, feel the grass swaying in the garden, what are the names of the trees whisper in your ear …..And then you come home filled with teh sounds of Nature, your hand reaches for the vase and the flowers are already waiting for you.
Awakening is when you can speak with the flowers in their language. Awakening of a Man to his Truth in Nature Awakening is when you feel calm and at the same time excited when working on Ikebana.

Joan Perkins

Julie Lumsdale

I start with 4th Iemoto Akane Teshigahara’s words “Without challenging, there is no starting line”. Many people around the world have been in lockdown due to COVIdD; in Queensland we had occasional short lockdowns luckily. So for me ‘Sogetsu Awakening’ is expanding myself as an artist – opening up new ideas with the material, pushing the boundaries of the art and promoting the art through different mediums like social media and broader public awareness. If my art can let others into the soul of Sogetsu through their viewing or initiating Ikebana classes I have achieved Awakening

Junko Daniels

I started my involvement in ikebana over 20 years ago and I am still learning about Sogetsu Ikebana and the many things associated with it, the philosophy and spirit of ikebana. The virtual exhibition is a very new and modern way to show Japanese ikebana arts to many people. It’s a big challenging and exciting event to show case the beauty art and spirit of ikebana flower arrangements

Kay Gagnon

As a practitioner of Sogetsu ikebana I believe the idea of  “Sogetsu Awakening” is a message reminding us of the importance of using our learned aesthetic and artistic know-how of arranging plant materials to enhance the beauty of branches, leaves and flowers that we use for decoration so that people may develop a greater appreciation of the plant world giving it greater respect. One must cherish and care for this natural beauty on our earth. 

Keiko Murakami

With the ongoing global pandemic, the view to the daily life and of the world have drastically changed. It is almost surreal that once upon a time, mere two years ago, the world was somewhat free in many ways. With such premise in mind and to move forward, my “Sogetsu Awakening” means to reset and rejuvenate my approach when creating the work; in the use of materials as well as to reevaluate whether the work represent myself as Sogetsu Ikebanist, yet not forgetting the cumulative effects which serve as the important base.

Lara Telford

Sydney is back awakening to real Sogetsu Exhibition with people, their emotions, and smell of flowers, friendly conversation and creative spirit alive in the air. I envy you. Melbourne is still a long way to go.
But despite the odds we managed to discover and to learn new things: practice, teach and share Ikebana via Zoom, Instagram and Facebook. Our need to create Ikebana Sogetsu style is unstoppable. We made new friends all over the world; we kept connected to each other and Sogetsu Headquarters. What about that special treat when our Iemoto Akane Teshigahara finds time to put a little heart next to your work?

Louise Worner

Sogetsu Awakening is the awakening of creativity, void of the constraints of rules and boundaries. It is thinking beyond the ordinary and mundane….pushing the limits of one’s own creativity.

Lucy Papas

The threat of COVID arrived at the same time as my physical trauma, preventing any human contact or comfort. My fledgling garden provided hope and little else.I compiled, sanitised, vaccinated and waited for recovery. Restrictions lifted and my body strengthened in time with the glorious arrival of spring. All hope and promise was realised with every bud and tender green leaf and that pot whose contents were forgotten. People appeared everywhere and the light of the day was, yes definitely brighter. Everywhere I looked was an ikebana opportunity and I was filled with the wonder of it.

Margaret Wilson

Using nature as my muse I am focusing my attention on beauty and delight in a celebration of awakening to new possibilities of following COVID. As Marcus Aurelius said: “Dwell on the beauty of life. Watch the stars and see yourself running with them”

Margot Perez

I love Sogetsu Ikebana.  It is very challenging, forces me to think and be creative.

Masae Ako

Maude Freymond Wanner

Awakening is a process by which I honour and embody my true nature, mourning what I have left behind, celebrating what is and trusting what will unfold. My Ikebana practice is a reflection of this inner process. It is an intuitive and symbolic quest, a path where I feel interconnected with Nature, where I am in touch with my creativity, where I cultivate my flexibility, push the boundaries and constantly move forward.

May Chiu

After hibernation of Sogetsu Ikebana activities for the past 12 month due to the pandemic, it’s n opportune time to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Sogetsu Ikebana in Sydney and rejuvenate our creative ideas and bring forward the fun and intrigue of Sogetsu Ikebana!!

Olga Lapshina

Ikebana is my feelings, my inner world, when I can express everything not in words, but in the language of dialogue between the plant and the ikebana master. My path to ikebana gave me fullness of life, meeting and friendship with interesting people and practices that help me find balance in a complex world.

Olga Tomia

Flower and man,
What connects them on the path of life?
The sadness of loss and the joy of birth,
Striving upward,
Diving into the depths of the oceans…]Gardens of blooming rainbow bliss
And a thirst for life,
Giving strength,
Break through from under snow!

Pamela Croci

Sogetsu Awakening: I have been involved with Sogetsu School of Ikebana off and on over the last 20 years,  starting with Seiseki Umemura and finally completing Sogetsu Teacher training a couple of years ago through Sensei Sandra Cottee.  It is really only now after practising Ikebana consistently especially each day over the Covid lockdown periods that I have come to fully appreciate and open myself to the vastness of ikebana and deeply experience the way of flowers bringing a truly extraordinary dimension to my life.  

Paulina Rosa

Sogetsu Awakening to me is to become aware of natural flora and fauna in combination with different kinds of materials that can be used to create floral arrangements in an inexhaustible way. I have become more sensitive to the beauty and forms of a twig, stem, leaf, petal, branch, flower, plant and all kinds of material, be it in its natural or man-made form that could be combined to create a Sogestu composition. The visual excitement of finding beautiful and fitting materials to work with is a stimulating experience that enhances and enriches my life

Ping Block

Sogetsu Awakening is a heightened appreciation of the beauty of nature and of one’s creative response to this beauty.

Renu Saraf

When I nail bamboo piece, twirl some wirier between, curve few branches pick my flowers and freely arrange all these, there comes a musical awakening within me like a symphony which makes me Happy and fill my heart with Joy. Sogetsu Ikebana has trained me to find beauty in anything and everywhere hence bringing new life to used material
Often I talk to mu y materials while doing the arrangement and I. Feel I am having a conversation with the Divine

Sandra Cottee

Awakening dormant feeling of expression and freedom after lockdown, to connect with people through the use of familiariser plant material in our surrounds. To encourage curiosity and the many ways of exploring and experiencing nature through the world of ikebana

Sandra Jumikis

Awakening
Yes!
A morning class spent with Ikebana friends

Sandra Marker

From the slumber of entrapped ideas one awakens to the enchantment of nature’s palette with stimulating inspiration and creativity to venture forward.

Shoan Lo

The energetic spark of life that breakthrough the mass of darkness time, bringing hope and joy, being prelude of a new beginning.

Dr Shodo Shimbo

Sogetsu was founded in 1927 and was strongly influenced by Western modernism. But with the shift to a more postmodern paradigm in many areas of contemporary culture, we may need to seek a new approach in ikebana, starting from a re-evaluation of its origins. One of the goals of ikebana is, according to a 16th century master, the symbolic representation of nature, rather than expression of an artist’s individuality. Moving away from the idea of self-expression towards a focus on nature may lead to an awakening and give new insight into our place as humans in the natural world.

Svetlana Mishina

When I make a formal ikebana arrangement, I get a lot of positive joyful emotions. I would like to pass that message on to other people. It is very creative process and I love it. For ikebana to be born, I have to think carefully about the material, think of the form, the volume of composition. To catch inspiration, I look at photos of famous masters of Sogetsu ikebana and get an understanding (epiphany) of what to strive for. Individual expression in the art of ikebana – that’s what Sogetsu School teachers and its beautiful.

Titiana Tsoy

Once Sogetsu ikebana appeared in my life unexpectedly and not according to my desire (this sis a separate story). But less than a year has passed since the beginning of my studies and I could no longer imagine myself without ikebana.
It was Sogetsu Ikebana that awakened my desire for creativity and the search for harmony. The ikebana Sogetsu School gives knowledge how to find new techniques, materials, involve various techniques from other areas of human activity to create fundamentally new compositions, and also adapt the most unexpected places in the space for ikebana
And as it seems to me, all this together makes it possible to create not just floral arrangements, but real objects of modern art

Teresa Dittrich

Sogetsu Awakening makes me aware of importance to create and show something  interesting or beautiful or unusual, satisfying the heart and soul in this unfriendly, nasty and devastating time.

Vickie Hearnshaw

Like many other members I was disappointed when the gathering was cancelled due to Covid 19. The opportunity to join other members from Australasia, to participate in a virtual exhibition is very attractive. 

Vicky Kalokathis

Sogetsu ikebana has awakened my imagination and creativity to the endless possibilities that can emerge from plants and flowers. Furthermore the  search for new and interesting materials to work with, has resulted in a passion for gardening.

Waileen Siew

SOGETSU AWAKENING – The Calyx, Royal Botanic Garden Sydney

Alexander Evans

Alexander Evans

Gwyneth Teh

Hiroko Prado

Jenny Goodwin

Jorgen Rasmussen

Junko Daniels

Margaret Hall

Masae Ako

Masae Ako

Maude Freymond Wanner

Sandra Marker

Sandra Marker

Sawling Lim

Seiseki Umemura

Alexander Evans

Daniel Verner

Hiroko Prado

Yumiko Soo

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