Melbourne Ikebana Festival, 29 and 30 August 2026ikebanafestival.com

Monday, 28 May 2012

Shoso at the National Gallery Victoria







Shoso created a large Ikebana work, Flower Torii Gate for the Greater Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere Project, a part of the the Next Wave Art Festival.
When: 17 to 27 May 2012
Where: The NGV Studio, Flinders St, Federation Square, Melbourne City


Message from the artist who is in charge of the project

Hi Shoso,

I would like to take this opportunity to issue a warm thanks on behalf of Abdul, Casey and myself for being part of The Greater Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere with us. It's been an absolute pleasure to showcase your talents and you've been so gracious with your time and company. The flower gate and you're demonstration pieces really add an invaluable dimension to the work and we couldn't imagine the space without them.

 I hope you were happy with the demonstration yesterday, as we felt that the whole day was a complete success across a broad range of demographics. We wanted to make sure you knew how much we appreciated your contributions to the project and do hope you come to visit the project this Friday at the closing ceremony if you are free.

Many thanks and kind regards,

Nathan 



http://www.shoso.com.au

Monday, 21 May 2012

Corporate Dinner at Crown





Shoso created special displays and centrepieces for a cooperate dinner show.  We have received very positive feedback from the client. Thank you many assistants for your help.

"The arrangements looked absolutely spectacular and the client was delighted with all of your amazing work. Thank you again, it was a pleasure working with you and I look forward to doing so again."

"Thank you very much for the wonderful arrangements you created for the Sakura dinner. The night was a wonderful success, and our client and Japanese delegates were really very impressed. Everything came together really, and we are very appreciative of the hard work."

http://www.shoso.com.au



Thursday, 10 May 2012

Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show 2012





In the wake of stressful experiences, people often reassess what is important in their lives. Every year in November, the monks at the Kiyomizu Temple in Japan choose a character that best sums up the year. Last year, it was the character Kizuna, which means “relationships”.

In 2011 Japan suffered a devastating tsunami and nuclear disaster and for many people it was their community and relationships that helped them get through the most difficult times. The same can be said for flood and fire ravaged communities in Australia, and in any place where disaster has uprooted lives.
In Ikebana the relationship between people and environments has long been a central issue. 

In this work, I explored the idea of relationship. There are several independent abstract forms, large balls made of plants and flowers, but it is the relationship between the elements that brings both tension and harmony to the work. This work Kizuna is also a metaphor for love.

http://www.shoso.com.au


Sunday, 6 May 2012

The Ten Virtues of Ikebana 10b



As I mentioned last time, three of the Ten Virtues of Ikebana are concerned with the goals of Ikebana training. Basically, through Ikebana you are able to maintain a peaceful mind, to be elegant and to get in touch with your spiritual side. 
It is interesting that these are all spiritual goals in essence. Compared with many popular self-development books or commercial spiritual movements, Ikebana is aiming at something far more spiritual. Ikebana is just like a form of pure meditation.
Some may consider knowing Ikebana to be something very special, but it simply means they know a bit about meditation. There is nothing to be so special about it.
Ikebana has nothing to do with secular values such as money or power. However, I don’t deny that I do Ikebana as a business. I see business opportunities as opportunities to practice Ikebana, my spiritual training.
I’ll talk more about different aspects of Ikebana from the next issue. Hope you will enjoy it.
I made this work for the entrance in our house using left over materials. To fix the bird nest fern leaf, I attached a short branch to the base of it.


http://www.shoso.com.au