Ikebana is a centuries-old Japanese art of arranging flowers. It uses well-curated blooms, flora, and other elements to convey the artist’s feelings or emotions, sometimes imbibing a painting or a sculpture.
Over the years, many ikebana enthusiasts learned to appreciate the school of art and made their own creations using natural elements. However, in 1927, Sofu Teshigahara recognized ikebana as a creating art even though many believed it meant following established forms. Eventually, she founded the Sogetsu School, which many practices today.
Last September 29, the Papel @ Sogetsu Ikebana Exhibit launched at Uptown Mall in Bonifacio Global City. It was a spectacle to behold as rows of artworks stood in all their majesty, with various colors, textures, and shapes that make each piece unique.
The exhibit’s theme is paper, thus giving many artistic minds the freedom to work with paper materials and translate them according to their design.
Many of the exhibitors are students of Marc Tomas, the former president of Ikebana International Manila Chapter 108, who is also a Sogetsu Potential Manila Chapter member. Tomas has been teaching ikebana since 2006.
He shared that he loves the lines and forms of ikebana and how it allows him and other practitioners to use everything around them, whether unconventional or otherwise.
In the meantime, his students appreciate his patience in teaching them the basics of ikebana and sogetsu. For them, the Japanese art of ikebana sogetsu is an ideal way to unwind, escape the hustle of everyday life, and express themselves freely.
Among the valuable lessons they learned under Tomas, who they call “sensei,” is that they can beauty in simplicity, even when using materials they find from their surroundings.
True to the event’s theme, the exhibitors utilized paper products to add their own spin to the material.
For instance, Evangeline Cheng used tissue paper in her piece because it’s an object she sees daily but not something many would consider turning into art. She also used leaves and flowers to augment her piece further.
Meanwhile, Yasmin Crisostomo, Gina Onda, and Aurora “Boots” Estrada played with different colors and textures in their art. Crisostomo opted for a monochromatic paper design that symbolizes the local artistry among weavers and added orange flowers for a pop of color. Onda followed a similar approach but opted for other textures in her paper elements, using Japanese paper, among different kinds, to mimic elegance. Lastly, Estrada decided to add a dish of polvoron to her piece, with each treat wrapped in colorful paper as a tribute to her Filipino roots.
Yet some also found the vase or medium to be the focal point of their pieces. Like Celia G. Lazaro, who used paper artwork made by the late artist Tes Pasola as her piece’s medium. For Lazaro, implementing such an element made her composition more personal and a tribute to the visionary artist.
Meanwhile, Imelda Elido used a broken vase for her entry. She positioned the broken vase in a way that continues to highlight the simple beauty of her artwork. After all, she wanted others to see that even damaged things can be beautiful.
Other exhibitors include Neny Regino, Jean Año, Margot Perez, Harold Anopol, and Nancy Uy, among many practitioners and enthusiasts.
Gracing the event was Director and First Secretary of the Embassy of Japan’s Japan Information and Culture Center Shigehiro Matsuda, who said that seeing many ikebana sogetsu enthusiasts is heartwarming because it helps spread the beauty of the art and Japanese culture.
The Papel @ Sogetsu Ikebana ran from September 29 to October 1, with a live demonstration of the Japanese art on September 30.