First time arranging Shōka and Shōka shimputai guided by @zenwithserena of @studio_seren with @flowerclubint Ikebana Club. The art of a Shōka arrangement is symbolizing the natural life of plants; bud, bloom, decay synergised with your own intentions. Ikenobo is the oldest school of Ikebana, practiced by monks in the temple. Serena with her decade of experience transpired a self reflective spirituality I wasn’t expecting from arranging in this way.
Life cycles has been on my mind; the milestones we celebrate and grieve, fertility and ageing and the space in between of the ordinary moments connecting them all. While this style is intended to be shown in a tokonoma with the face central to the viewer, what I’m drawn to are the intentional gaps between botanical material that are vital to receiving its full essence as an arrangement. It’s the seemingly unremarkable space between that give the alive things life and the ageing integrity. How remarkable life at its first and last breath is!
