Iemoto's Workshop - be creative

Before commencing today’s workshop, the Iemoto gave a talk on how we should try to expand our field of expertise and design through creative thinking.

The Iemoto asked us to think how do one incorporates their feeling into their work, because ikebana becomes the ‘human’ so keep in mind your spirit and not be limited in expressing this characteristic For those who know me that was an open invitation to just ‘go for it’.

With 80 delegates in the workshop space was limited and not being one for small and dainty arrangements I could not go large. Everyone was going up so I took the opposite option and created a cascading arrangement. It is also because of my passion for water and coming from Australia where we have just experienced so much rain, totally excessive in many places. The idea of cascading was also inspired by the falling Sakura blossom, with pools of petals everywhere.

The arrangement created challenges such as how to support the material in a container when the mouth is almost facing downwards giving gravity every opportunity to pull the material out. I resorted to ‘stuffing’ additional length into the container plus the floor supported some of the reeds. Material touching the floor angled back up resembling splashing effect. Water was accidentally spilt trying to fill the container so I left it for added interest. The use of Dancing Lady orchids added colour and contrast of texture.