THE IKERU PROJECT
IKEBANA projects introduces 'The Ikeru Project' (from the Japanese 生ける “to arrange” flowers) - a short film highlighting ikebana artists at work produced in collaboration with a vibrant and diverse Japanese creative community in March 2021, at the peak of the sakura season in Tokyo.
For this project we took on a challenge to merge ikebana and contemporary art by showing a large-scale Sakura (cherry blossom) arrangement in a contemporary art space; Cave Gallery, as well as creating a contemporary arrangement at a venue of a traditional Japanese style, Yokomichi projects.
‘The Ikeru Project’ emphasizes the boundless creativity of Ikebana and its intricate links with both traditional and contemporary arts & crafts.
IKEBANA ARTISTS
Makiko Morange & Reito Oizumi
“There is a particular way of emptiness (MA 間) in Japanese culture which is reflected in Ikebana. This idea of ‘less is more’ really differs Ikebana from Western flower arrangements.”
CERAMIC ARTIST
Hiroyuki Tomita
“I would like my vases to be more like the earth, where the flowers themselves can stand on their own, with their own vitality, rather than being a tool for the ikebana artist.”
GALLERY FOUNDER
Ayumi Suzuki
“There was such an empowering energy flow created by the Ikebana artists (during the filming). I thought that I could grow spiritually through Ikebana.”