Ikebana is the Japanese art of flower arranging, but there’s more to it than disposing blooms, leaves, branches and twigs on a vase. The origins of Ikebana are deeply rooted on Ikenobo.
Ikenobo dates back to 1462 when the movement started in the ancient city of Kyoto. Here the Ikenobo headquarters is adjacent to the Rokkakudo temple for the past 550 years.
For five and a half centuries the masters of Ikenobo have imparted their high sense of aesthetics to countless people from all over Japan and the whole world. They are trained and encouraged to carry on a tradition that is uniquely Japanese.
Ever since an Ikebana International chapter was instituted in Cebu in 1970, there has been a great interest and enthusiasm in learning more about the evolution and interpretation of this art. Interest in Ikenobo was inevitable.
Ikenobo Ikebana is not just to express beauty but also inner feelings and sentiments, even anguish. The adept flower arranger can therefore transmit his most secret joys or tribulations.
For decades now, one of Cebu’s great Ikebana enthusiasts is Zelia Borromeo. She has been to the Ikenobo school in Kyoto and has absorbed its lore through lectures, workshops and a desire to expand her capacity.
Zelia is currently the president of Ikenobo Society of Cebu. To celebrate the 550 years of Ikenobo, she initiated an impressive exposition at the lobby of Montebello Villa Hotel which belonged to her family.
It opened the afternoon of Nov. 23, and was visited by appreciative viewers throughout the ensuing weekend. It was amusing to see some exhibitors changing some of the flowers in their arrangements so that they’d always look fresh.
A brief program highlighted the opening ceremony. Heidi Cabaluna of the Montebello sales office gave the rationale about Ikenobo and how it has evolved through the centuries, resulting in a freer style in the recent decades.
The ceremonial ribbon was cut by Setsuko Hata, wife of Japan’s Consul and Counsellor in Cebu Yoshaiki Hata, along with Linda Binghay, Rosario de Veyra Utzurrum and Zelia herself.
Most of the exhibitors were present to collect praise and congratulations for a truly magnificent array on display. Among them were Mercy Abellana, Corito Abalos, Bebe Alcoseba (youthful and spry at 92), Anon Atega, Gina Bonghanoy, Zelia Borromeo and Pauline Deduque.
More: Betty Eustaquio, Carmen Garcia, Sue Gray, Rosalina Go, Oj Hofer, Adelaida Javier, Barbara Kenny, Mariter Klepp, John Ong, Becky Peralta, Norma Sanchez, Magie Sy, Betty Uy and Ma. Theresa Zosa.
Among the first-day viewers were Montebello president and general manager Greg Canocio, Zony Borromeo Escario, Norma Borromeo, Ginny Vamenta, and Takeko Nagai who came with Madame Hata.
Merienda was served at the adjacent Café Bougainvilla. Main topic was the exhibit, of course, and the news that an Ikenobo master is due in Cebu on February 2013. He will conduct a lecture-workshop.
Shape
We learn something new every day, as we did during this event. An important factor in Ikebana is shape. The vertical suggests movement either up or down, or complex movement in direction.
The horizontal suggests movement either to the right or left, or both. The slanting has to do with movement diagonally upward or downward, extending to one or the other side.
Colors play a vital role, and here are some of them with their meanings: white—purity, stillness, emptiness; black—solemnity, death or silence, nothingness; gray—modesty, repentance, solitude, plainness; red—passion, boldness, danger, revolution; yellow—uplifting, cheerfulness, jealousy and lukewarm feelings; green—repose, tranquility, intelligence, hope.
Principles of formation are helpful in being creative in Ikebana free style. A knowledge of construction and type of materials used can deepen the understanding of beauty.
Point is a fundamental element of formation, having a tendency to combine materials of similar quality. Points work on focal areas. Lines show movement of a point, straight lines give a hard, cool, intellectual masculine expression. Curved lines give a soft, warm, emotional feminine impression.
Horizontal lines give a peaceful, quiet and restful impression. Vertical lines are volitional and give a solemn courageous impression. Slanting lines give an unstable, suspicious mobile impression.
Rising lines give an impression of hope or delight. Falling lines give an impression of disappointment or sorrow.
You will often see buds in Ikebana arrangements. The bud is reflective of energy, of life’s opening toward the future. What could be more beautiful?