The vase I have used for this weeks ikebana is by a ceramic artist from Western Australia named Pippin Drysdale. I first saw her work in Darwin in 2004 and was entranced. Pippin had been perfecting her technique and style for many years. Around the year 2000 her work took a new turn inspired by the landscapes of the north west of Australia, particularly the Tanami Desert. The surface decoration technique she has developed involves fine lines of contrasting colour that are effectively incised over the entire outer surface of the pot. The result is magical and the connection with the landscape is immediately apparent. The forms she uses are elegant and visually light, having a relatively large body on a small base. (You will find more pictures of Pippins work at:
www.pippindrysdale.com/studio.php)
Creating an ikebana work that enhances and yet is not overwhelmed by such a strong vase is quite a challenge. I have made a design of a single line and a mass of small white flowers of the same material, (Bursaria Spinosa). The line arises from the centre of the vase and leaves the right hand side open. This is a large bush that we have growing in our garden and is indigenous to the east and south coast of Australia from Cape York to the west of South Australia.
Greetings from Christopher
15th January 2012
Love the arrangement, Christopher, and am coveting the vase.... so beautiful. Love the movement of white of the small flowers being repeated in the blue white movement of the glaze. -- Michael
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