Real Beauty of Imperfection
Imperfection is real beauty
Food for imagination
Ego with humility
Life with curiosity
True soul in humanity
Ikebana is the art of Japanese flower arrangement.
There are strict rules in how and what to be arranged. I studied from a Japanese teacher from Ohara School of Ikebana. I followed the rules and learned the rules. Along the way, I have found the beauty of Ikebana is not the way the rules apply but the philosophy. I understand while I look at every flower and every leaf with respect.
When we believe that something is perfect. We stop searching for anything else; we shut our perception for any alternative. We allow ego to play significant role. Ego is good; it helps increase energy and drive. Too much of it, we lose respect to others. Ikebana teaches me to respect every twig of flower, every branch of leaves and trees. For me they represent each life experience. It is not always perfect, but full of stories to be explored. If we are open-minded enough and curious enough to learn.
When I pick up twigs I tend to choose for the one that is not perfectly straight; the one that bends. I see the energy, the struggling to survive to reach for sunlight. It is full of fighting spirit and energy in the stem. It will make the whole arrangement move dynamically.
A small plant coming out from dry sand gives the feeling of struggling of a person against all difficulties.
A dry tree on green rice field has a nice contrast of lost hope that comes alive.
A small wild flower popping out from wet ground gives the feeling of fertility.
Full bloom of flowers on tree celebrates life. All make me always curious to explore what a life has passed through.
Ikebana has a lot of rules but at the end, at least for me, there is no rule for beauty. The rule given is just primary guide to let us see the beauty of space and movement. It is the art of composition that can be appreciated in all forms – paintings, drawings, sculpture, nature etc.
Beauty is how you see it. While arranging, just be relaxed and go right ahead and do it. When you are used to it, it will come along naturally.
I am not the guru to say what is beautiful and what is not. For me the beauty is what one likes to see; it is when one feels it appeals to them. The same stem may be arranged differently. Some might rid some leaves. Some might rid some pedals. Some might keeps them all. But if for them it is beautiful, it is. Just feel free to explore.
Entries (RSS)