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Balance, harmony, beauty
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Grace Joseph does Ikebana, the Japanese art of flower arrangement
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Photo: H. Vibhu
Visually stunning Each Ikebana arrangement has a message to convey. Grace Joseph and some of her floral arrangements
Next time your eyes are caught by a different style of flower arrangement in one of the city stores then it may be Ikebana done by Grace Joseph. Ikebana the classic, Japanese way of saying it with flowers is a passion with Grace and arrangements done
by her can be seen at Le Mars, Palarivattom and Joanne Home stores, Panampilly Nagar.
She was also part of the group that decorated the Asiad Village during the 1982 Asian Games.
Visually stunning and in a rare riot of colours, Ikebana is the Japanese style of floral arrangement with aesthetic appeal and esoteric meaning.
“The term ’Ikebana’ means living flowers in Japanese. When we create an Ikebana piece, we must convey the feeling that the flowers are alive.
You have to believe that you are the Sun and that the blossoms look towards the Sun, as seen in nature.
We look for balance, beauty, harmony and placement,” explains Grace Wife of an army officer, she learned Ikebana from an English lady in Delhi, in 1973. She joined as a member of Ikebana International, Delhi. “The Club was very active with frequent demonstrations by visiting Japanese experts. It hosted exhibitions attended by dignitaries and members were encouraged to create and display their floral arrangements.
As Delhi has lots of blooms we used to pluck flowers from the nearby forest,” recalls Grace. She would create at least four Ikebana arrangements a week. Later when she moved to the garden city of Bangalore, she made Ikebana arrangements for birthdays, wedding anniversaries and other happy occasions for family and friends.
As she has travelled extensively throughout Europe, Africa and America Grace says that she learned this art over the years and even today, she is still learning . She follows the famous Sogetsu school of Ikebana which is popular the world over.
Unlike the traditional method where the attempt is to reproduce whatever is growing in the natural setting, in the Sogetsu style materials such as glass, copper, aluminium, wire and bamboo are used along with flowers. Grace says that an Ikebana piece can only be done at the specific place where it is displayed. Most arrangements are free expressions but maintain the framework of a triangle of unequal sides. One of the latest developments in the Sogetsu School is that no ‘kenzan’ or pin holder is used.
Grace says, “Any flower can be used, as long as the cardinal Ikebana principles of balance, harmony and beauty are adhered to. There are Ikebana courses of various levels- Basic, Abstract, Freestyle and so on. An Ikebana piece can be made with a flower, two flowers or three flowers and the cost depends on the flowers and other materials used to complete the look.”
Message
Explains Grace, “When you make an Ikebana arrangement, you are sending out a message- welcome, peace, joy, creativity etc. to the beholders. Each piece is unique and different.
Every piece is given a name such as Sunrise, Sunset, Beautiful, On Your March depending on what it symbolises. Interestingly, students typically place a pair of scissors beside the Ikebana arrangements as a sign for the teacher to inspect the piece.”
This floral art expert is the author of the book, ’A Journey from Religion to Relationship’. The busy septuagenarian says, “It is a pleasure to do Ikebana as it gives me life. A love for flowers and dedication is the most essential quality for those interested in pursuing this art.”
PARVATHY MENON
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