Our December meeting was held at ABK on the 16th of December. 11 members attended the meeting. Our chairperson Reji Mrs Malathi Pandurang, discussed with us the arrangements for our upcoming annual exhibition in January. Various aspects of the ...
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"Ikebana and us" - 5 new articles

  1. DECEMBER MEETING AT ABK
  2. Annual Sogetsu Exhibition 2024
  3. November 2023: Attending The 15th Asian Regional Conference by The Hyderabad Chapter
  4. October Meeting: Demonstration by Sensei Ambika Chandrashekar and talk of trek in the Hampta pass by Chelvi Gopinath
  5. September 2023 workshop
  6. More Recent Articles

DECEMBER MEETING AT ABK

Our December meeting was held at ABK on the 16th of December.

11 members attended the meeting. Our chairperson Reji Mrs Malathi Pandurang, discussed with us the arrangements for our upcoming annual exhibition in January. Various aspects of the exhibition was discussed in detail by Mrs Malathi Pandurang.We are grateful for the tireless efforts of Mrs Malathi Pandurang in organising this annual exhibition of ours.


Our Sensei Mrs Meenakshi Sarin was invited as national jury for the  floral arrangement contest held by the National Abilympics Association of India in Delhi for the North Zone region.


Sensei Meenakshi gave us a talk on the nature of the event. On the first day six participants with various disabilities had participated. Sensei Meenakshi explained the difficulties and the humane challenges of the participants.

Delhi in December had beautiful flowers which brought out the creativity of the participants.

Sensei Meenakshi had participated in this event as jury with great compassion.


Sensei Meenakshi Sarin with the participants.
   

Annual Sogetsu Exhibition 2024

 Annual Sogetsu Exhibition on January 20-21 2024 



The Annual Sogetsu Ikebana exhibition for the public was hosted by The Chennai Sogetsu Branch members under the guidance of the Director Riji Mrs Malathi Pandurang on Jan 21 2024 and Jan 22, 2024 at Cholamandal Artist VIllage, Injambakkam, East Coast Road, Chennai. The  exhibition also featured  two workshops titled “Weaving coconut leaf accessories for Ikebana” and “Fundamentals of Sogetsu Ikebana”.


The exhibition was inaugurated on Friday, 19 January 2024 at 5pm  by Mr Taga Masayuki , Consul General of Japan in Chennai. Other special guests included Ms Teraoka Mami, Vice Consul of Japan in Chennai, Mr Damodaraswamy  Secretary-Examinations ABK- AOTS Dosakai, Mr P Gopinath, veteran artist and and President of Cholamandal Artist Village.


The traditional lighting of the lamp by the visiting dignitaries was followed by a welcome address by Sensei Chitra Rajan. Riji Mrs Malathi Pandurang invited the chief guests and other special guests to say a few words. Their appreciation of the efforts of the Mrs Pandurang in keeping alive the art of Ikebena in Chennai was heart warming.  Sensei Ambika Chandrasekhar delivered a sprightly vote of thanks. The guests took their time to walk around and appreciate the exhibits. The function concluded with tea and snacks amidst great camaraderie between guests and hosts.  








The exhibition showcased  thirty four beautiful and subtle Ikebana creations from 11 Sensei members and 11 non-Sensei members reflecting the aesthetics achieved by synthesis of different plant materials in innovative and elegant containers . The arrangements can be viewed by clicking the link below.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/W9gpaA1buYcGZ9fW6


 The workshop on Coconut Leaf weaving techniques held on  Saturday 21 Jan 2024 focused on weaving with coconut leaves to create accessories for ikebena arrangements. It was conducted by Mrs Geetha Someshekhar from Bangalore, specialist in Indonesian Janus art of weaving. There were two sessions morning and afternoon  running  full house with over 25 participants enthralled to learn to  intricate techniques of creating a artistic form the ubiquitous banana leaf.




The Sogetsu Ikebana Beginners workshop on 22 Jan 2024 on the basics of Sogetsu Ikebena was attended by 18 participants. Sensei Ambika Chandrasekhar’s demonstration of classical Moribana style ikebana inspired  the participants to bring out their best during the practise sessions. Sensei Ambika and Sensei Meenakshi Sarin helped participants to arrange during the practise session.






Sensei Divya Selvam hosted a dinner for Ms Geetha Somasekhar and the members of Sogetsu Chennai branch.  


Sensei Pushkala made all arrangements for procurement of plant materials. Media support was provided by Ms Luna Bose and Ms Sathya.  ABK- AOTS management graciously provided for pedestals for flower arrangements in the exhibition.  

   

November 2023: Attending The 15th Asian Regional Conference by The Hyderabad Chapter

 17th -19th November 2023


The 15th Asian Regional Conference the Ikebana International by the Hyderabad Chapter #250 Prakriti Laya (Rhythm of Nature) at Hyderabad brought together ikebana enthusiasts from different parts of the world to network and share their passion for ikebana.


Seven members from our Chennai Branch Meenakshi, Prerna, Trishala, Chitra T., Yoana and Luna along with our respected Director Reji Mrs. Malathi Pandurang reached Hyderabad with our materials to take part in the Ikebana exhibition and attend the Conference. The exhibition was inaugurated by the Consul General of Japan Chennai, Mr. Taga Masayuki on the 17th of November.





The Exhibition

 

    Exhibits by our members:                                         

 









Later in the evening at the inauguration ceremony of the conference, a coffee table book 'Living With Art And Ikebana' was unveiled to mark the 20th Anniversary of I.I. Hyderabad Chapter.
  




Iemoto Mishosai Keiho Hirara.

Christopher Lim of Sogetsu, Singapore

Ichiyo Master Lily Zhang

And of course Master Instructor from Sogetsu Tokyo, Ken Katayama


The conference included a Misho-ryu Ikebana workshop conducted by Iemoto Mishosai Keiho Hirara.  Our members Trishala and Luna attended the workshop and learnt about the Misho school of Ikebana, including some techniques of material handling.. 






Moreover, we got an opportunity to experience the traditional aspect of Hyderabadi culture and learnt tribal embroidery and veni making(Indian Floral accessory). It was an ideal platform for "Friendship through Flowers". 


Veni making 




Tribal embroidery


The four-day conference ended with the Sayonara dinner at the Chowmohalla Palace. A great surprise was waiting at the Palace. Members of the Hyderabad chapter enthralled all the delegates as they walked the ramp showcasing the various hand-woven traditional saris from different states of our country.




Sayonara!


We returned from Hyderabad with a great learning experience and look forward to participating in such conference and exhibitions in the future.

   

October Meeting: Demonstration by Sensei Ambika Chandrashekar and talk of trek in the Hampta pass by Chelvi Gopinath

  Our October meeting was held at ABK on Saturday the 14th of October with nine members in attendance.

The meeting began with a talk by our member Chelvi  Gopinath .She was part  of an eight member group of trekkers , who had taken a four day trek through the Hampta Pass in Himachal Pradesh. Hampta pass ,a navigable pass in the lesser Himalayas.
The Hampta pass is at an altitude of 14,000ft above sea level.
Chelvi shared billiant  photos of the boulder-terrain enroute the trek.

Our member Chelvi participates in treks and  marathons very often.










Sensei Ambika Chandrashekar gave us a demonstration on flower focus.
in an arrangement.
For her first arrangement, Sensei Ambika arranged  hosta lily leaves and carnations in a nagiere and she brought out the beauty of the white carnations in the arrangement thus emphasising colour focus.







The second arrangement by Sensei Ambika was in a moribana.
She had used foxtail ferns and Gerberas and the colour contrast and focus and lines in the arrangement were very beautiful.





Photographs of members' arrangements
Bhuvana Shivasankaran: Gerberas and Pandasnus leaves in a moribana.



Luna Bose: Garden leaves and carnations


Our member Krishna Ramachandran student of Sensei Ambika Chandrashekar received his third and fourth certificate from the Sogetsu school.




On the morning of the 25th of October our Director Reji Mrs Malathi Pandurang was conferred the Foreign Minister’s Commendation Award by the Consul general Mr.Taga Masayuki at the  Consul general’s residence.Senior members attended this ceremony. 
We are delighted that our Ma’m  has been given this prestigious award.  
Our director Mrs Pandurang has contributed to the promotion of Japanese culture in India through introducing and teaching Ikebana in Chennai and other areas.
The Foreign Minister’s Commendations are awarded to individuals and groups with outstanding achievements in international fields in order to acknowledge their contributions in the promotion for friendship between Japan and other countries.







Congratulations to our dear Ma,m.
   

September 2023 workshop




After 4 months it was nice to meet members face to face at the familiar ambience of ABK. 

Sensei Molly demonstrated in her elegant, experienced style to bring forth the translucent nature of glass container, water and plant materials. Her first item was depicting the Fall season, where she used a sunflower, exhibiting the brown seeds more than the yellow petals and also alamanda petals only floating, leaving the scene to the imagination of the viewer to appreciate the aspects of Fall. 

The second one was in a translucent container which had protrusions on one side, which she took advantage to depict Surface, of the slender  caladium leaf with its own stalk giving it a linear direction which was appealing. 

The third she used three water glasses giving an ascendant/descendant structure and complimented them with ordinary materials . 

The last one was in a slightly tinted vase where she used white lilies and red flowers tied together with wire and gently filled the vase with water through a cardboard tube. She explained to the audience, that if she used a mug to pour water, the bunch of flowers will change its intended position.That was from an experienced sensei. Transluscence, water as part of composition and elegance was handled well.

There were lots of apologies for absence.

Malathi Pandurang read out the offer made by the President of Cholamandal Artist’s Village Gallerie and Workshop halls for our Annual exhiition in January.The meeting ended with some refreshments.

Ms Molly Cherians arrangements

1. Title Fall 

Based on lesson  9 book 4. Disassembling and  rearranging.

Materials: Arranged Sunflower in a large  oval glass container  kept on  a wooden  tray

2. Title Water's Edge

Based on lesson 14, Book 3 , Composition of  surface  and line. 

Materials: 3 Caladium leaves  arranged in a translucent glass  Nageire  container.


3. Title Gin and Tonic

Composition  using multiple  containers. 

Materials: umbrella palm, premna, green  Anthurium, Gypsophylla and water beads  , arranged in multiple glasses kept on  a dark wooden  plank.

4. Title Submerged  arrangement 

Free  style. Materials: white lily,  miniature ixora,Aglonema Leaves, and marbles arranged in  a large transperent glass bowl.


Participants Arrangements 

1. Susan Sudhir | materials used: pandanus leaves (above and inside the water); canna stem (dried and painted); bulrush stalk


2. Luna's arrangements  materials used philodendron leaves and santini chrysanthemum in a glass container



3. Trishala's arrangement using Palm leaves.. chrysanthemums.


4. Krishna's arrangement using Gerbera yellow, white and red Chrysanthemums, allamanda branch.

5. Mohan's arrangement using canna leaves and ixora  flowers






   

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