August 21st 2019
 It was close to a full house as we met for our August meeting. On the agenda were demonstrations by sensei Dalley on using branches in expression, and sensei Ambika on creating Ikebana to complement art. Chairperson Malathi made some announcements regarding our planned annual exhibition in 2020 January before the demonstrations. She welcomed new member Luna Bose, and also introduced two guests - Mrs Shashwathi Mukherjee and Ms Geetha - for the meeting. Sensei Dalley began with a Nagiere composition with distinct branches in a earthen coloured vase. The dramatic lines were complemented with large jerberas and a stunning crab's claw.
 | Sensei Dalley's composition with a beautful interplay of rust, brown and red, all
wonderfully balanced and harmonised. |
Sensei Ambika then demonstrated ikebana complementing art. A ceramic sculpture of a lady with a pot was complemented with an arrangement in a moribana black vase.
Emphasising the lines of the sculpture, while creating a scene at a pond, she aimed at including the art in a larger composition.
 | | By the pond - Ikebana complementing art - sensei Ambika |
 | | ensei Dalley then began her "Installation", with the branches and driftwood creating a large landscape, with mountains, a valley and a rhododendron tree. She worked swiftly and had the audience all agog, as she added finishing touches to the dramatic piece. |
 | | Sensei Dalley's second piece. The picture does not quite do justice to the depth, texture and drama of the composition. |
 | Sensei Ambika's second composition used the metal art piece of the sun
and attempted to create a radiating, energetic composition to
reflect the power of the sun. |
It was then on to the workshop  | | Chithra T - Complementing art - "Buddha's offerings", worked beautifully with the square lines of the vase complementing the picture frame, as also the colours of the composition. |
 | | Sensei Meenu displayed the strong lines of the driftwood, with the anthuriums for colour. |
 | | Pushkala incorporated beautiful movement of the candle bush flower and the branch material in this nagiere composition. |
 | | And she complemented an art photograph of the grains of the tree trunk, with this close imitation in real life. Pushkala |
 | | Sensei Mollyemphasised the driftwood with a single Cannonball branch. |
 | | Luna Bose our new entrant, complemented the tribal mask, with colours and movement. |
 | | Sensei Malathi titled her miniature composition as "Melancholy", as she complemented the mood of the lady on the vase. |
 | | Chithra Rajan's beautiful windswept arrangement with branches. |
 | | Mohan made use of a dead bonsai branch to create this autumn expression. |
 | | Jyotsna's upside down branch with large yellow jerberas reminded one of a Van Gogh painting. |
 | | Sensei Prerana created some autumn magic, with her own painting, and vase and branches so well harmonised. In fact, she combined the two themes into one! |
 | | Sensei Divya's powerful linear use of branches with strong colour accents. |
 | | Bhuvana used the branches of the Ficus, with the fruits providing a beautiful colour punctuation. |
 | | Chelvi harmonised brass and wood, complementing the artistic wooden alcove beautifully. |
It was a satisfying workshop, with so much varied expressions. And to top it all was the filling and delicious refreshments courtesy of senseis Meenu and Prerana.
The theme and dates for the next meeting will be announced soon.
July 24th 2019
The first meeting after the summer break, and we had good attendance. 18 members, including two new members were present.
The first order of business was to welcome the new members Ms Usha and Ms Luna to the Study Group. It was a special moment to welcome Usha, a friend and student of our study group sensei, Late Ms Janaki.
Next, sensei Malathi gave the Third Grade teachers certificates to Senseis Dalley and Ambika. Both expressed what an honour and special moment it was.
 | | Sensei Dalley and Ambika received Third Grade Teacher's certificates from Sensei Malathi! Congratulations to them. |
 Sensei Malathi then proceeded with her demonstration, where she focussed on showing the significance of Line in ikebana and thereby talked about how to read Line before proceeding with the composition.
It can be Linear Form, linear mass, linear surface or simply Line. To read them as 'weak' or Strong'. Also how to strengthen weak Line or how to weaken strong Line.
 | To explain about Linear Form, she worked with a Basic Upright Style moribana, and encouraged
the members to verbalise the movement. This was seen as ascending, inspiring, striving. |
 | | Other Japanese language students also joined in to observe |
 | With the second Nagiere, sensei Malathi elaborated on the display of line (when the leaves are cleared), and
the effect of a slanting line as expressing moving, reaching. |
 | | Using a compote, the third composition focussed on Linear Mass. |
Using lines bunched together, and with clear spaces between the massed leaves, the composition emphasised the line, and beautifully complemented the shape of the vase. The lines on the dressina brought drama and movement below, while the carnations were used in a way to only add colour, with their lines being subsumed into the main line.
 | | The final composition was used to demonstrated drooping Line and also Linear Surface |
The members then proceeded to interpret line in the compositions.
 | | Pushkala used circular movement in this arrangement, |
 | | and linear movement in this one. |
 | | Chithra Rajan's composition in brown had the strong heavy brown branch balanced by the freshness and vitality of the green line. |
 | Sensei Divya created a dramatic composition with a strong
movement that could be verbalised as "snaking"? |
 | Bhuvana's composition was a harmonious
blend of colour and line. |
 | | Mohan used the lines of the umbrella plant to bring height to his composition. |
 | Jyotsna used wavering lines to complement and contrast the strong,
straight lines of the triangular vase. |
 | | Sensei Ambika attempted to use the line to verbalise "Leading". |
 | Chitra Thiagarajan could be said to be expressing "Supporting, as
her lines all balanced each other |
 | | Chelvi used her horizontal line which seemed to express "Seeking" or "Exploring"? |
 | | Sensei Dalley used upward movement in her split composition. |
 | | Pushkala created a beautiful flowing line. |
 | | Sensei Molly also used upward lines, contrasting the brown with the green. |
 | | Mala used ixora to create a linear form. |
 | | Our new member Usha displayed linear form. |
Delicious samosas, bondas and brownies were provided by Dalley and it was a fitting end to a satisfying workshop filled with learning.
25th June 2019
The Coast Guard Wives Welfare Association organised a Sogetsu Ikebana demonstration, and Sensei Meenakshi Sarin was the one who introduced and explained the basics of the art.
Her experience with Coast Guards Women's Association was one of awe for the discipline and protocol for the Armed Forces. Sensei Meenakshi was assisted by her student Jyotsna. The DG's wife was the chief guest for the morning.
As per protocol we could not take pictures, they had assigned a cameramen. Here are some pictures of the event.
 | | Sensei Meenakshi demonstrating her first piece |
 | | The first piece was in a white fibre-glass container, nd was titled Sogetsu. She used Dressina to follow the shape and added chrysanthemum to give colour. Sensei Meenu wanted to give the look of greens and flowers growing the container. |
 | | The second one was in a black suiban, used a curved Dressina trimmed the leaves to give a blunt look, and emphasise the line. The adenium cadix also brought line and the anthuriums provided for colour. |
 | | Freestyle Nagiere composition with dry banana leaves. one horizontal the other vertical. Gerberas of different colours added depth. The whole arrangement was placed on a mirror, (which is not evident from the photograph), and it was completed by a tornado or aluminium wire squiggly all the way down, generating a downward movement to balance the composition. |
The colourful backdrop was a trifle distracting, but it was a big success. The audience showed interest and curiosity in the materials used and in the principles of the art. It was a fulfilling and satisfying experience for Sensei Meenakshi and her student Jyotsna as well.
11th and 12th June 2019
Bangalore
Ikebana International Bangalore chapter organised a demonstration of Sogetsu Ikebana by Mr. Christopher Lim from Singapore on June 11th, 2019, accompanied by a beginners and advanced workshop on the 12th of June.
Five of our members Sensei Molly, Dalley, students Chitra, Mala and Mohan attended the programme.
Chris Lim did several compositions without kenzan and cross bar support. And finally a large one. Here are the pictures taken by members.
 | | At the end of the demonstration. |
The workshops involved smaller compositions with focus on the techniques, balance and fixtures. Sensei Chris used local material for this.
 | | Mala's arrangement in the workshop, with a beautiful display of lines. |
 | | Mohan's bold interpretation with the same materials. |
In the advanced workshop, the focus was on creating structures that show movement. Participants were asked to use dry branches and natural wood to create movement in the structure itself. Sensei Chris expected minimalism and strong focus on movement.
June 5th 2019
 | | Chithra Rajan's composition with strong powerful mass and movement |
Study Group member Chitra Rajan, made an arrangement for the Governor's visit to Shri Ramachandra Mission Meditation Centre.
The Governor Mr Banwarilal Purohitstood before her Ikebana and commented that he had not seen an arrangement like this before. He also participated in narrating a grandmother's Tale More Recent Articles
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