IKEBANA WORKSHOP 29th April 2012

1 pm - 3 pm

(Scene from Sofia Coppola’s movie Lost in Translation (2003).

Scarlet Johansson’s character Charlotte is left bored in her hotel in Tokyo and accidentally wanders into a room full of women who are completely absorbed in creating complex floral compositions.
Charlotte peeps through an half open door, watching an Ikebana instructor teach other middle aged women, her hands pointing from the table in different directions, she’s speaking japanese. Charlotte enters the room, looking lost.

Charlotte: Hello…

Ikebana instructor: Konichiwa.

(Ikebana instructor signals her to join the group, handing her a flower stalk)

Charlotte: Uhm, … uhm…

(Charlotte hesitates, but then carefully begins to arrange flowers)

Charlotte: Okay…


In this one day workshop, participants can explore Ikebana, a form of floral arrangement that has been practiced in Japan for centuries. Only using a minimal number of flowers and placing great importance on simple, striking lines, Ikebana focuses on a triangular formation, with three predominate flowers symbolizing heaven, earth and humankind. While it takes years of study and practice to master the many schools and intricacies of ikebana, anyone can learn a few basic steps to design beautiful, Asian-inspired floral arrangements.

Course instructors are Verena Gillmeier and Fanny Waller. 

Please note:
There is going to be basic working material on site for us to work with. Art School provides 15 students with that material. Registration is required. Send an email to ikebanaschool@gmail.com to sign up. Even extra students are possible, but please do then bring your own equipment and sign up at ikebanaschool@gmail.com anyway.

Green tea served during the workshop.

Most Welcome!