IKEBANA ON ANOTHER SCALE


Over the past few months, along with other members of the Ikebana International (I.I.) Melbourne Committee, I have been preparing to celebrate the 60th anniversary of our organisation. Planning for this event began in the middle of 2017. 

Early discussions lead to an invitation being extended to the then Iemoto (headmaster) designate of the Ichiyo School of Ikebana to be our special guest at these celebrations. It is also the 30th anniversary of the Melbourne Branch of the Ichiyo School. Our guest, Mr Naohiro KASUYA, is now the Iemoto of the Ichiyo School.

Since 2003 the Melbourne Chapter of I.I. has participated in the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show, held in the World Heritage Site-listed building, the Royal Melbourne Exhibition BuildingThis year I am the team leader for the Sogetsu School at this event. 

As it is a significant birthday for I.I. Melbourne, we have been able to secure three continuous sites for our installations that represent the five active schools of ikebana in Melbourne. The Ichiyo School has been given the main central site, and the four other schools share the sites on either side - two to a site. 


This is the first model of what could be achieved with eight 3 metre lengths of bamboo. I thought I would share with you the evolution of the Sogetsu School's design. All schools are using bamboo with a maximum length of 3 metres and which is about 10cm in diameter. We are also using fresh materials to reflect the Autumn season. 



Above is the first design to scale from the model, with seasonal materials indicated.


We were given three bamboo poles to test our design ideas and fixing techniques.


This was the next design sketch. However, because of the requirement to avoid damage to the wooden floor of  the heritage-listed building, we realised that the supporting poles had to be vertical rather than slightly slanted. 


This is the third model, which was taken to the site when we began the set up today.


It took about four hours to get to this stage.


But finally we were confident that it was sufficiently stable...


...that it could stand alone. 

Thanks to the rest of the team, Lara, Gauri, Julie and Margaret. More photos next week of the completed installation .

Belated greetings from Christopher.
24th March 2019


1 comment:

  1. Thanks for sharing your planing process with us, I think it helps others to know what is involved with a large arrangement.

    ReplyDelete