Symphony of Movement at Sogetsu Ikebana Queensland's Exhibition 2017

by Tony Dyer (subscribe)

Event: 19/08/2017 - 20/08/2017

If you have ever wondered how you can make beautiful art from the bits and pieces lying around your yard then mark this amazing event down in your calendar. Sogetsu Ikebana Queensland is holding its annual exhibition at the Mt Coot-tha Botanic Gardens Auditorium, Mt Coot-tha Road, Toowong on Saturday, 19 and Sunday, 20 August, 2017 from 10.00am until 4.00pm on both days.

Admission to the Exhibition is $4.00 per person.

This year is the 90th Anniversary of Sogetsu Ikebana world-wide and the 43rd year Sogetsu Ikebana Queensland Inc. has held its exhibition with each year increasing in size and interest. This year the exhibition will be opened by Mr Dale Arvidsson, Curator, Brisbane Botanic Gardens, at 10.15 am on Saturday.

The theme for this year's exhibition is, Symphony of Movement. With its unique and distinctly different style from Western floral artistry, ikebana enthrals and delights people of all ages from all over the world. Distinguishing ikebana from 'western flower arrangement' is its asymmetry, the use of empty space as a feature and a sense of harmony among the materials, the container and the setting.


You'll get to see how ikebana, the exquisite art of Japanese flower arranging, is much more than arranging flowers in a container. True ikebana is about creative statements of originality through expression by applying distinct rules of construction while using living plant materials. Any plant material may be used as well as flowers. For example, withered leaves, seed pods, branches, etc. are valued as highly as flowers in full bloom.

To gain first-hand knowledge on how these works of art are created, and to understand exactly what you are looking at, there will be free ikebana demonstrations daily at 10.30 am.

If, once you see how the various and unusual aspects of constructing ikebana art, you want to get stuck in and begin expressing your own creative streak, why not, for an extra $3, join one of the classes, commencing at 1.30pm on both days? These classes are designed to introduce you to the creative use of plant and materials and provide a basic understanding of the fundamentals. You may well be inspired to create your own masterpiece, or even go on and join Sogetsu Ikebana so you can enjoy the pleasure of ikebana on a more permanent and artistic level.


Ikebana related materials are on sale throughout the Exhibition and, once you know what's needed, you can get straight into that masterpiece when you get home. To keep your strength up, and to make sure you see the whole display, tea and coffee will also be on sale.

There are many different schools or styles of ikebana in Japan and Sogetsu is one of the more modern, having been founded in Japan in 1927. Sogetsu Ikebana Queensland Inc. is a branch of Sogetsu Teachers' Association in Japan and has been in Queensland since 1963. The Sogetsu school operates on the principle that ikebana should be enjoyable and creative and not bound by rules or classical styles. Practising the art should enrich the lives and environments of the participants. The Sogetsu school believes anything may be used as material and all works can be displayed anywhere.


Sogetsu Ikebana Queensland Inc. has had a long association with the Queensland Art Gallery which has extended the organisation's members the privilege to create an arrangement for public viewing in the Gallery. The Association is very active in Brisbane with its members providing workshops and installations for private and public events.

Take advantage of this exciting opportunity to view one of the arts of Japan, in a modern context which is not often seen in Australia. Begin your growth as an artist of the ikebana art form with the support of a dynamic group of teachers and practitioners. You will be amazed at how it is possible to see beauty where you have previously thought was rubbish and learn how to create something spectacular from ordinary plants and other materials.

To find out more about this fabulous ikebana Exhibition at the Mt Coot-tha Botanic Gardens Auditorium contact Sue on 3870 4930. For more general information on Sogetsu Ikebana Queensland Inc., look up the web page here, or make contact through the website contact page here, or check out the organisation's Facebook page here.

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Why? Get your creative juices flowing and surprise yourself

When: From 10.00am to 4.00pm on Saturday, 19 and Sunday, 20 August, 2017

Phone: 3870 4930

Website: www.ikebanabrisbane.org.au

Where: Mt Coot-tha Botanic Gardens Auditorium, Mt Coot-tha Road, Toowong

Cost: Entry is $4 per person.

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