Ikebana-Inspired Floral Compositions As An Artistic Practice
Above: Ikebana-inspired arrangement using only white lisianthus.
When you think about traditional ikebana floral compositions, most likely these words come to mind: minimal and sparse. These days the minimal aesthetic when it comes to interiors and fashion are popular which is most likely why interest in ikebana has been revived. You don’t need to be an ikebana master to create an ikebana-style composition. Below I provide some tips on creating ikebana-style compositions and also touch on freakebana.
What is Ikebana?
Ikebana is the traditional Japanese art of flower arranging. Flowers, plants, leaves, and branches are chosen based on the season to represent a theme or to establish the decor of the room. Ikebana differs from Western flower arranging. For one thing, ikebana emphasizes space and simplicity. Far few elements are used to create this type of composition. While Western flower arrangements can be enjoyed from all angles, ikebana arrangements are usually designed from one direction. This is mainly because typically the ikebana arrangement is placed in an alcove called a tokonoma in traditional rooms.
Above: Spring ikebana arrangement using foraged boxwood and azalea.
Above: Summer ikebana arrangement using foraged summer sweet and hosta.
Above: Ikebana composition with autumn/winter color ranunculus and winterberry and foraged nandina foliage.
Above: When learning ikebana from a teacher, the student needs to draw the diagram for each style to be created.
The Ikebana Principles
Less is more: Where western-style arrangements go for flowers in a vase on mass to make an impact, ikebana goes for structure, space, and minimalism.
Asymmetrical balance: It’s common to see tall branches balanced precariously in ikebana. That’s because it uses a 30/70 balance ratio, rather than the normal 50/50.
It’s much more than just decoration: The art of creating an arrangement leads to self awareness (and happiness!).
In and Yo: Japanese Yin and Yang is about opposites completing one another.
Ephemerality: Ikebana aims to capture the fleeting beauty of things. A lot of ikebana arrangements feature a bud to represent the promise of hope.
Space: Not just emptiness, but an important part of the design as a whole
Tools
Some useful tools for this type of arrangement include:
Flower frog/Kenzan. A flower frog or kenzan is a specific device used in ikebana for fixing the flowers in the container. It consists of a heavy lead plate with erected brass needles where the stipes are fixed. The literal meaning of kenzan is “spiky mountain.” You can purchase from a specialty retailer and Amazon.
Shears. Scissors and shears specifically for ikebana and bonsai are great and will last you a long time. Other good brands:
Joyce Chen Unlimited Kitchen Scissors
I would recommend having separate shears for floral stems and separate shears/pruners for woody stems and branches.
Bowl/Dish. There are multiple places to purchase bowls and dishes whether from Japan, a ceramicist, or from Amazon. When you fill the bowl with water, the water should cover the top of the points of the flower frog.
Flowers and plant material. You can forage for material outside if you like or purchase material from the store or a combination of both.
Sphagnum Moss. If you don’t want the points of the flower frog to show, you can cover them with the foliage from the materials you source. These are subordinate stems called Jushi and are shorter than the main stems. Or you can use sphagnum moss.
Tips for Arranging an Ikebana-Style Composition
The principles of floral design are a set of guidelines which help create pleasing designs and are similar to the design principles used by any type of designer from all mediums. The principles assist the floral designer throughout the process of selecting plant material, visualizing a design, and constructing it. Each of these principles should be practiced with skill and sensitivity when designing an arrangement. Because many of the principles are interdependent, the improper use of one principle can result in the failure of the design. The principles of floral design are the foundation from which floral designers work to create beautiful designs. The following principles should be evident in every basic design created:
Balance (most importantly form and color): Balance is the visual and physical stability of a floral design. Balance must be physical and visual.
Contrast/Color: Mixing opposite colors and textures.
Harmony: A harmonious relationship between the components of a design can be achieved through the careful blending of textures, shapes, plant materials and colors.
Proportion/Scale/Space/Orientation: Proportion in design refers to the size of the flowers in relationship to each other, the flowers to the container, and the arrangement to its surroundings. It is also known as scale.
Rhythm: Rhythm in music is the flow of the melody. Rhythm in floral design is similar, giving life and movement; it is the unity and flow of materials that creates a pleasing image to the eye.
Unity: Unity in an arrangement is the look and feeling that the design is one singular unit.
Dominance: Dominance is the focal area, center of interest, emphasis. Tied to this is focal point which is the location within a design that attracts the most attention; the center of interest.
These principles are even more emphasized in traditional ikebana flower arranging. Minimalist, simple, and asymmetrical are three words that describe this type of arrangement.
Above: Sogetsu school ikebana-inspired composition with “Coral Charm” peonies, carnations, and pothos plant cuttings.
Design lines are especially important with flower and foliage stems placed in different vertical and horizontal angles. Ikebana is a three dimensional composition, therefore the three elements of height, width, and depth are important. Three lines come to mind when working on an ikebana style arrangement: Shin, Soe, and Hikae. Shin is the longest main stem and plays a decisive role for the entire shape. The second longest stem which supplements Shin is called Soe. The shortest yet indispensable for the overall structure is called Hikae. There are also subordinate stems called Jushi which add strength to the three stems or give fullness to the composition.
Above: Sogetsu style Variation of Basic Slanting Style Moribana and diagram showing Shin, Soe, and Hikae lines.
Ikebana and ikebana-style arrangements should be arranged in a way where the stems are coming out and giving you a hug.
Try to maintain sufficient yet harmonious space between the flowers, leaves and stems.
Imagine a vertical line in the middle of the container, around which you will arrange the elements in varying heights and angles. Think of this main dominant line as if it were a brushstroke on a painting. You will want plenty of empty space around that line to highlight which means cutting back any stems or leaves that interfere.
Select one or three larger flowers to be the focal point. Examples are lilies or chrysanthemum shaped flowers. *A natural balance is achieved when you use odd number flowers.
Branches (flowering or bare) in vertical and horizontal angles are a common element and add the right balance between height and length.
Thin stems and branches require large fillers. Smaller blossoms go well with thicker leaves. Showy blossoms can look good on their own.
Above: Ikebana-style composition with spirea and anthurium.
Above: Student work from a ikebana-style workshop.
What is Freakebana?
Freakebana is a modern variant of the Japanese floral arranging style of ikebana that proposes the celebration of artificiality and falsity of floral compositions. It requires artistic judgement and a sense of creativity utilizing floral with everyday objects to create interesting compositions.
Above: Buttery color lisianthus arranged with a cake, lettuce, and quail eggs.
Above: Lavender chrysanthemum arranged with painted anthuriums, a pear, and marbles.
Above: Zinnias, yarrow, and marbles.
Ikebana as an Artistic Practice
Ikebana is an expressive art form that brings nature and humanity together and embraces the impermanence of the arrangement, which offers the opportunity to value the present. Ikebana values the imperfect, finding beauty in underappreciated elements. It is connected to the philosophy of wabi-sabi, which embraces all that is imperfect, impermanent, and incomplete in life. Lastly these type of compositions seek harmony, balance, and movement in an attempt to connect with the natural world.
Above: Ikebana-style arrangement with lisianthus and foraged summer sweet.