tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2548440675230803562012-02-16T17:52:38.546+11:00Shoso Ikebana Blog: ikebanaonline.orgMelbourne based Ikebana artist & teacher Shoso Shimbo shares his works and his essays on Ikebana here. Many of these are English versions of his articles published monthly in a Japanese community paper in Melbourne.
ikebanaonline.org will host several online Ikebana courses soon! Learn Ikebana anywhere, anytime.Shosohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08566223236817754655noreply@blogger.comBlogger401100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-254844067523080356.post-40887625342564035252012-02-06T17:32:00.003+11:002012-02-06T18:19:00.250+11:00Ikebana for Special Event
I created an Ikebana work for a graduation ceremony at a TAFE college in Melbourne.
”Our graduation night was very successful, 120 guest enjoyed your flower.
Also holmesglen staff love your bouquet.”
This work was so popular that we used this image for free downloadable calendars for April 2012. Visit Shop page in Shoso's site.
http://www.shoso.com.auShosohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08566223236817754655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-254844067523080356.post-51026895820183274892012-02-02T17:58:00.001+11:002012-02-02T18:00:16.162+11:00The Ten Virtues of Ikebana 9
The ninth of the Ten Virtues of Ikebana is to be elegant all the time. This is about the highest state of mind that Ikebana practitioners can attain and it has a spiritual aspect as well. This is the state where a person can become one with nature. Is this state related to Buddhism, or is it Shinto?
In the development of Ikebana since the Muromachi period, Buddhist monks, in particular, Shosohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08566223236817754655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-254844067523080356.post-37363659921359381532012-01-25T23:57:00.002+11:002012-01-27T22:30:51.395+11:00End of Summer
Picking up materials from my garden, I made this arrangement. It was nice meditation on a hot day.
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Shosohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08566223236817754655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-254844067523080356.post-73475626331438901152012-01-03T11:46:00.000+11:002012-01-03T15:18:33.713+11:00The Ten Virtues of Ikebana 8
The eighth of the ten virtues of Ikebana is a peaceful mind. Through practicing Ikebana, you can maintain a peaceful mind and consequently you can live longer.
Great people tend to be calm whatever happens in their lives. On the contrary small people get upset easily over small things.
Also, as was pointed out by Inazo Nitobe in “Bushodo: The Soul of Japan”, calmness is the Shosohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08566223236817754655noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-254844067523080356.post-66045440886689792222011-12-17T12:26:00.001+11:002011-12-17T12:26:19.645+11:00The Ten Virtues of Ikebana 7b
In my last article, I pointed out the similarity between the seventh virtue, cleansing evil thoughts and the second virtue, selfless mind. It is true that both virtues are about the calming effects of Ikebana, but there is a small difference if you look into their definitions closely. In looking into it, the hidden essence of Ikebana may reveal itself.
Among the ten virtues of Ikebana, Shosohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08566223236817754655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-254844067523080356.post-45493522581769490542011-12-14T01:13:00.000+11:002011-12-14T12:36:53.566+11:00Group Exhibition at University
I exhibited four Ikebana works for the Fine Arts Postgraduate Colloquium 2011, Faculty of Arts and Design, Monash University.
The four works represent the four different approaches in Ikebana with each work represents a single approach.
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http://shososhimbo.blogspot.com/Shosohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08566223236817754655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-254844067523080356.post-20311436407752260232011-12-04T12:50:00.001+11:002011-12-04T12:55:37.607+11:00Free Ikebana Calendars: Update
Download free Ikebana calendars. The international editions have been added. http://www.shoso.com.au/shop_16.html
http://www.shoso.com.au
http://shososhimbo.blogspot.com/Shosohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08566223236817754655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-254844067523080356.post-81153411025988928632011-12-02T22:43:00.001+11:002011-12-03T10:53:45.235+11:00Free Ikebana Calendar
Download free Ikebana calendars!
http://shoso.com.au/shop_16.html
http://www.shoso.com.au
http://shososhimbo.blogspot.com/Shosohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08566223236817754655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-254844067523080356.post-5548889995607318462011-11-22T21:03:00.000+11:002011-11-22T21:05:23.230+11:00Ikebana Exhibition 2011_ Shoso Shimbo & His Students
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http://shososhimbo.blogspot.com/Shosohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08566223236817754655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-254844067523080356.post-14796431153520704182011-11-18T15:01:00.001+11:002011-11-18T15:09:04.549+11:00Flower Meditation
Making Ikebana works is a daily ritual for me. I used kagaroo-paws from my garden. They are growing well this year thanks to a lot of rain.
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http://shososhimbo.blogspot.com/Shosohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08566223236817754655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-254844067523080356.post-88127877173164214112011-11-16T17:47:00.001+11:002011-11-16T19:36:10.237+11:00Exhibition Opening
Lesley Kehoe Galleries asked me to create a display for an opening of Maio Motoko's exhibition. The artist's request was not to use any living materials! I took many different types of materials such as bamboos, found objects and coloured branches, but they were all rejected by the artist. Using only two types of dry branches, I managed to make this Ikebana work in time.
This is another Shosohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08566223236817754655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-254844067523080356.post-34095912751290653092011-11-15T11:00:00.000+11:002011-11-17T21:19:44.860+11:00Newspaper Article:A floral passion - People - News - Stonnington Leader
Shoso was featured in a newspaper in Melbourne.
A floral passion - People - News - Stonnington Leader
A File in Google Doc
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http://shososhimbo.blogspot.com/Shosohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08566223236817754655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-254844067523080356.post-76209569006395443112011-11-10T23:46:00.001+11:002011-11-10T23:51:36.197+11:00Recent Work: Toyota Sculpture ExhibitionShoso Shimbo's Ikebana work was featured in Sculpture 2011, Flourish, the Toyota Sculpture Exhibition.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1rG6Y2_itQGjyGlDwQo6krnX3o-GHS-jcjVFLEoEQgnA/edit?hl=en_US
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Shosohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08566223236817754655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-254844067523080356.post-53935171178507184202011-11-07T14:37:00.001+11:002011-11-14T14:05:54.381+11:00About Ikebana Exhibition
It is fortunate that we have had annual Ikebana exhibitions the last seven years. But there are so few Ikebana exhibitions, despite the fact that there are so many Ikebana teachers in Australia.
Although some Ikebana schools make it compulsory for each branch to have annual Ikebana exhibition, some branches have ignored such requests. That is understandable considering there are so many Shosohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08566223236817754655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-254844067523080356.post-1216703241180230192011-11-01T19:04:00.000+11:002011-11-07T08:42:28.799+11:00The Ten Virtues of Ikebana: 7a
The seventh of the ten virtues of Ikebana is departing from any harmful thoughts.
We may sometimes have evil or negative thoughts. When we face flowers, however, these thoughts disappear instantly. Ikebana can help keep our minds calm – a real bonus in today’s world!
The seventh virtues is similar to the second virtues, selfless mind. They both means in essence that Ikebana helps Shosohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08566223236817754655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-254844067523080356.post-59329977802135441372011-10-21T12:45:00.001+11:002011-11-07T08:43:48.908+11:00Recent Work: Ikebana Delivery
My client asked me to deliver an Ikebana work to her grandmother in hospital. I chose light yellow, pink and white to maximise the healing power of flower.
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http://shososhimbo.blogspot.com/Shosohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08566223236817754655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-254844067523080356.post-8548305782556970382011-10-06T23:35:00.001+11:002011-10-11T00:00:43.593+11:00About learning Ikebana
It may help for new students to know about the learning model in Ikebana. Without that knowledge you may get frustrated in the first or second lesson. Learning Ikebana is a bit different from learning cooking or how to use a computer software, for instance. It is even different from learning some crafts such as western flower arrangements. It is more like learning dance or martial arts.InShosohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08566223236817754655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-254844067523080356.post-22949573836483906042011-10-04T21:14:00.001+11:002011-10-04T21:14:58.572+11:00The Ten Virtues of Ikebana 6
The sixth of the ten virtues of Ikebana is constant scent.
If you take up Ikebana, you can always be surrounded by the nice smell of flowers.
Ikebana artists know which flowers work best for them and their family and friends. My favourite is a sweet olive, osmanthus fragrans. I was delighted to find this plant is available in Australia as well as in Japan and it’s growing so well inShosohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08566223236817754655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-254844067523080356.post-62912508650500958922011-10-03T16:57:00.000+11:002011-10-04T09:57:08.191+11:00Recent Work: Royal Melbourne Show 2011
Flowers Victoria organised floral competitions for the first time during the Royal Melbourne Show. I was invited to participate in a competition where 12 florists in Victoria were selected.
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http://shososhimbo.blogspot.com/Shosohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08566223236817754655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-254844067523080356.post-7595497117753327322011-09-19T21:40:00.002+10:002011-11-07T08:44:34.933+11:00Ikebana Exhibition
Shoso and his students present an exhibition of contemporary Japanese flower arrangements.
When: 12 - 18 November 2011
Where: Kings Arcade, 974 -978 High Street, Armadale, Melbourne
Poster (Large) / Poster (Small)
Please circulate this information. Thank you.
http://www.shoso.com.auShosohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08566223236817754655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-254844067523080356.post-58597138654864182912011-09-16T11:09:00.000+10:002011-09-19T22:23:46.202+10:00Recent Work: Bridal Bouquet
Round bouquet is a very popular style for wedding. This is a hand tied bouquet, not wired but I was able to create a completely round form. Tips to make a good round bouquet are;
1. Hold a bouquet at your eye level in making it.
2. Don't follow the professional instructions on You Tube. They are just too skilful. They make bouquets so easily and encourage you to make them like them. However, Shosohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08566223236817754655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-254844067523080356.post-73450185986312773522011-09-13T16:41:00.000+10:002011-09-14T10:42:08.637+10:00The Ten Virtues of Ikebana 5
The fifth of the ten virtues of Ikebana is gaining respect. This means that Ikebana helps personal development and as a result Ikebana practitioners will gain respect.
However, this does not simply mean that if you become Ikebana teacher you will be respected by many. If you expect to be respected by just practicing and teaching Ikebana, that would be wrong. If you don't understand this Shosohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08566223236817754655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-254844067523080356.post-65587326960767490432011-08-23T16:54:00.000+10:002011-10-04T21:08:20.209+11:00Ikebana Gallery Australia
We started a new blog for Ikebana students, Ikebana Gallery Australia. Please visit it and leave your comments. Thank you.
http://ikebanaaustralia.blogspot.com/
Shosohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08566223236817754655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-254844067523080356.post-68991906673765165062011-08-12T18:34:00.000+10:002011-11-17T21:21:03.887+11:00From Shoso's Gallery: ABC Gardening Australia Expo 2008
Rejuvenation
In this work I have returned to the theme of light returning to the world, as in the story of Ameterasu, the Japanese Sun Goddess, who hid herself in a cave and denied the world her light, then emerged to shine her light on the world again.
After a long period of darkness, light finally begins to shine again, starting with a small gap in a dark wall, which in fact has its Shosohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08566223236817754655noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-254844067523080356.post-42153962634137297622011-08-05T09:21:00.000+10:002011-08-05T09:21:27.800+10:00Shoso on TV
I talked about Ikebana and gave a quick demo for a popular morning TV show. I often use this video in my Ikebana workshop as an introduction. It's short and contains great information.
http://www.shoso.com.au
http://shososhimbo.blogspot.com/Shosohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08566223236817754655noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-254844067523080356.post-50884086942275480192011-08-04T00:37:00.000+10:002011-09-13T16:51:14.445+10:00Recent Work: Party Flower
Lady Susan Renouf asked me to make three Ikebana arrangements for her home party in July. This colourful work is a welcoming flower for her guests. Following is a wonderful comment from her.
Dear Shoso,
I meant to call earlier to tell you how DIVINE the flowers are.
You are amazing.
My guests were enthralled, particularly with the one "they will never see again " I think you will have to Shosohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08566223236817754655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-254844067523080356.post-11816591951934247222011-07-30T15:21:00.000+10:002011-07-30T15:23:40.442+10:00The Ten Virtues of Ikebana 4
Ikebana helps us learn about many kinds of flowers and trees with very little effort. We learn their names, and we become in tune with the seasons and nature.But you may ask “how come knowing about plants can be a virtue?” or “What kind of benefit does it give?”
To answer these questions, first we have to consider the definition of virtue. It is not about benefitting Shosohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08566223236817754655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-254844067523080356.post-53175491608944439122011-07-22T10:37:00.000+10:002011-07-22T10:37:48.654+10:00Recent Work: Wedding Flowers
Bridal Tied Posy (not wired)
Materials: Roses, Lisianthus, Queen Fabiola, Silver Suade.
Working with a bride to be is always exciting and challenging. Notice that white Queen Fabiola is creating an interesting, almost playful effect for this round bouquet. Following is the comment from the bride.
"Thanks again for the bouquets and button holes. They were beautiful and we received many Shosohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08566223236817754655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-254844067523080356.post-52109367728964704522011-07-15T19:22:00.000+10:002011-07-16T13:24:52.956+10:00From Shoso's Gallery: ABC Gardening Australia Expo 2009
Sprit bamboos are effective materials. Even a small number of them can create dynamic spaces and movements for a large installation like this.
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http://shososhimbo.blogspot.com/Shosohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08566223236817754655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-254844067523080356.post-47911737250929105472011-07-13T10:55:00.000+10:002011-07-13T10:55:00.189+10:00From Shoso's Gallery
Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show 2010
After Mondrian: A Celebration
This installation was inspired by the works of the Dutch artist Piet Mondrian (1872 – 1944). Robert Hughes says of Mondrian: "All his paintings are about the disentangling of essence from attributes: the enunciation of what is central, and what peripheral, in his experience of reality."
This work is a celebration Shosohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08566223236817754655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-254844067523080356.post-54444560308020331332011-07-11T14:59:00.000+10:002011-07-11T14:59:59.519+10:00From Shoso's Gallery
Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show 2011
http://www.melbflowershow.com.au/
"Hakanashi" by Shoso
30 March - 3 April 2011
Royal Exhibition Building, Melbourne
The layers in this work allow the viewer to experience a number of different works of art by changing their point of view. Hakanashi means transient in essence and is part of a very old system of Japanese aesthetics, dating Shosohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08566223236817754655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-254844067523080356.post-71257043731828267292011-07-07T17:29:00.000+10:002011-09-13T16:50:00.611+10:00Recent work
Flower for Birthday Party
Date: 11 June 2011
Venue: Cecconi's, Melbourne
Materials: Oncidium, Cymbidium, Pansy
Following is a nice comment from my client.
"Thank you so much for the magnificent 21st flowers they completed the table beautifully.
The colour and flower choice was beyond my expectation! "
Shosohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08566223236817754655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-254844067523080356.post-87706053234386165692011-07-07T16:54:00.000+10:002011-07-11T15:02:59.284+10:00Recent Work
Exhibition Opening
Date: 2 July 2011Venue: Lesley Kehoe Galleries, 101 Collins Street, MelbourneMaterials: Japonica, Molucca balm, Blushing bride
I enjoy working for this beautiful gallery using some of their wonderful containers. This is a small winter arrangement using a combination of white, pale pink and light green materials. This is the coldest time of the year but the combination of Shosohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08566223236817754655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-254844067523080356.post-43539961554045398892011-07-04T16:41:00.000+10:002011-07-07T16:23:37.540+10:00The Ten Virtues of Ikebana 3b
The other interpretation of the third virtue of Ikebana is that flowers can give us a profound pleasure, which is beyond words.
While flowers growing in the garden belong to the everyday worlds, cut flowers belong to a different realm. In Ikebana only cut flowers are used. As soon as they are cut, they begin to die.
Ikebana artists are trying to give eternal life to mortal objects, and in Shosohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08566223236817754655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-254844067523080356.post-65410673207079058262011-06-17T10:29:00.000+10:002011-07-05T11:04:08.591+10:00The Ten Virtues of Ikebana 3a
The third of the Ten Virtues of Ikebana is appreciating the non-verbal communicative power of flowers. There are two ways to interpret this. Some say that we can make friends through flowers without using any words. The other interpretation is that flowers can give us profound pleasure, which is beyond words. I’ll talk about the second aspect in the next issue and focus on the first this timeShosohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08566223236817754655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-254844067523080356.post-45382071123857978662011-06-17T10:22:00.000+10:002011-07-05T18:27:02.915+10:00The Ten Virtues of Ikebana 2
The second of the ten virtues of Ikebana is “selfless mind”. When we face our flowers, we are free from any concerns and we can clear our minds.
The first goal of Zen meditation is to achieve such a clear mind, free from the chattering self. This first step is often the hardest for any student of meditation. But with the help of the natural elements in their arrangements, many Ikebana Shosohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08566223236817754655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-254844067523080356.post-44530123454198152952011-06-17T10:15:00.000+10:002011-07-05T18:26:16.561+10:00Introduction to Ikebana 2
As I mentioned in the last article, Ikebana has been defined as symbolic representation of nature. This means that a simple Ikebana work using just one flower can represent the whole universe.
“Puppy” by Jeff Koons is a very popular large work of art. He uses flowers to create a dog in a realistic way. In contrast to that, Ikebana artists try to express something invisible, the essence of Shosohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08566223236817754655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-254844067523080356.post-83777533592821515542011-06-17T10:12:00.000+10:002011-07-08T00:54:38.056+10:00Introduction to Ikebana 1
What is Ikebana? In the 16th century Iekenobo Senno defined it as the symbolic representation of nature. Rather than focussing on the outward beauty of each flower, the Ikebana artist is concerned with the essence of the flower. Ikebana artists try to express the idea of nature in their works. Even a small work can represent a microcosm of the universe. In that sense, Ikebana is a symbolic Shosohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08566223236817754655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-254844067523080356.post-66585179002342884362011-06-16T22:58:00.000+10:002011-07-05T14:51:40.205+10:00The Ten Virtues of Ikebana 1
I’d like to talk about the ten virtues of Ikebana. Historically many Ikebana artists have been trying to convince people of the worth of Ikebana. The teaching of the ten virtues of Ikebana is a typical example. One of its original forms can be found in a text called Rikka Imayoo Sugata, written in 1688.
The first of these ten principles is No Discrimination. Ikebana made it possible for Shosohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08566223236817754655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-254844067523080356.post-74178879632719864702011-06-09T16:22:00.000+10:002011-07-05T11:11:26.076+10:00Introduction to Ikebana 3
Introduction: I'll post Introduction for this blog sometime soon.
While abstract sculpture became popular in the Western art in the 20th century, Ikebana has been an abstract art since its beginning 500 years ago. This aspect of Ikebana may seem small, but its significance should not be ignored.
Deeply indebted to Japanese aesthetics, religion, history and society, Ikebana truly Shosohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08566223236817754655noreply@blogger.com0