Melbourne Ikebana Festival 2024

Press Release

May 18, 2024 

Melbourne Ikebana Festival Proposes New Possibilities of Ikebana from Melbourne!

The Melbourne Ikebana Festival is set to enchant attendees from September 5, 2024. This event will unite Ikebana artists not only from Japan and Vietnam but also from diverse corners of the globe. International musicians and skilled ceramic artists will also be part of this unique festival in the heart of Melbourne. Expect a rich tapestry of Ikebana-related activities and immerse yourself in the captivating displays. 

Calling all talented exhibitors worldwide to participate in the prestigious Ikebana Exhibition – come and share your love of Ikebana with us.

Event Details

Save the dates from September 5th to 8th for the Wa Melbourne Ikebana Festival, proudly organized under the guidance of CEO Shoso Shimbo and his team. This immersive event will unfold across prestigious venues including the Melbourne Recital Centre, Abbotsford Convent, and Beleura House in Mornington.

Despite its introduction over 50 years ago, Ikebana, the Japanese art of flower arrangement, has yet to fully bloom in the hearts of Melbournians. To bridge this gap, we've organized a wide array of events to introduce Ikebana to a wider audience. This year, our focus is on the relevance of Ikebana in contemporary society.

Events include flower exhibitions, demonstrations, hands-on workshops, Ikebana performances, an exquisite dinner show, an enlightening presentation on Ikebana's therapeutic benefits, the prestigious Ikebana Container Award, and an Ikebana-style wedding bouquet contest.

Join us as we celebrate Ikebana's timeless beauty and explore its modern significance.

Three Main Events Featuring International Guests

1. Ikebana Performance: Hanadayori Night

Embark on a sensory journey as we unveil the exquisite Hanadayori Collection perfume series crafted by Metascent, accompanied by a live Ikebana performance by Shoso Shimbo. Joining Shoso is the internationally acclaimed classical guitarist, Slava Grigoryan, adding a melodic touch to the immersive experience.

• Event Name: "Ikebana Performance: Hanadayori Night"
• Duration: September 7, 2024, from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM
• Venue: Melbourne Recital Centre
• Website: Link

2. Hiroe Swen Ceramic Art Exhibition

We are very lucky to have internationally acclaimed ceramic artist Hiroe Swen, an Order of Australia recipient join us this year. Her solo exhibition will run alongside the Melbourne Ikebana Container Competition. Ms Swen will present the “Hiroe Swen Award" in person to the winner of the competition.

• Event Name: "Hiroe Swen Ceramic Art Exhibition"
• Duration: September 7 & 8, 2024, from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
• Venue: Salon, Abbotsford Convent
• Website: Link

3. Ikebana Dinner Show by Oshun Tsukagoshi  

Indulge in an unforgettable dining experience at Beleura House, a jewel among Melbourne's Historical Houses & Gardens, while witnessing the graceful artistry of guest artist from Japan, Oshun Tsukagoshi, the Headmaster of Ikebana Shofu as he brings elegant ikebana creations to life before your eyes.

• Event Name: “Ikebana Dinner Show"
• Duration: September 5, 2024, from 6:00 PM to 8:30 PM
• Venue: Beleura House, Mornington
• Website: Link

Other Events:

Ikebana Shofu Exhibition

Our free ikebana exhibition is the chief event of the festival. This year it will feature 20 artists representing the Shofu school of Ikebana, including Iemoto (head master of the school) Oshun Tsukagoshi from Japan.

Hana-Awase (Ikebana with Mozart)

Two teams of ikebana artists will compete in a Hana-Awase style performance to live music by the musicians of the renowned Orchestra 21.

Bridal Ikebana Bouquet Award 

Discover the beauty and elegance of the winning designs at this year's Bridal Ikebana Bouquet Award, where traditional Japanese floral artistry meets contemporary bridal fashion. Brides-to-be will be our judges.

Ikebana Demonstration

Under the theme of "Ikebana for restaurants and cafes", selected ikebana artists will take 6 minutes each to demonstrate their work.

Ikebana Container Award

This award calls for ceramic artists to create a container for Ikebana works, highlighting the importance of containers as a complement to the beauty of Ikebana floral arrangements. Hiroe Swen will select the winner. 

The Organiser

The organizer of the Melbourne Ikebana Festival is Tsubo Melbourne Pty Ltd.

Contact

Shoso Shimbo, CEO of Melbourne Ikebana Festival

Shoan Lo, Managing Director

Virginia Fong, Public Relations

wa.ikebana@gmail.com 

Wa Melbourne Ikebana Festival

Website: https://www.ikebanafestival.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wa.ikebana

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wa.ikebana/

Note to Editors: High-resolution images and additional press materials are available upon request.

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Join our exhibition

Wa: Melbourne Ikebana Festival 
Join our exhibition - All ikebana schools welcome
Immerse yourself in Japanese Flower Arrangement

https://youtu.be/v9NH62S-dMw

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Ikebana Dinner Show

Watch elegant ikebana creations by artists Shoso Shimbo and Shoan Lo unfold before your eyes as you enjoy a three course meal at one of Melbourne's finest restaurants. Canapes on arrival and drinks are included. This is the first event of Wa: Melbourne Ikebana Festival 2020.

Image: Shoso Shimbo, Container: mbug

When: 7pm - 10pm, Saturday 12 September 2020
Where: Quaff Restaurant, 436 Toorak Rd, Toorak, Melbourne
https://www.quaff.net.au
Booking: Opening soon. Programs 2020.


Menu - indicative menu. Final menu will be announced in May 2020.

entrée

lemon salt & pepper calamari 

mizuna, spanish onion, sriracha aioli

master stock braised pork belly

nuoc nam, green mango salad, pickled chilli 

seared sumac tuna

wasabi fish roe, pickled daikon, soy ginger dressing

salad of watermelon, papaya and grapes

fresh ricotta, walnuts, sherry dressing

************************

main

pan fried fish fillet

beetroot puree, fennel and herb salad, hazelnut oil

oven roasted lamb rump

baby tomato, yellow string beans, basil jus

toasted moroccan spices

chargrilled eye fillet steak 

cauliflower mash, watercress and radish salad, red wine jus

leek, spinach and fetta risotto

side salads included

************************

dessert

vanilla panna cotta 

sugar glazed peach, granola crumb, peach syrup

warm banana and walnut brownie

raspberry coulis

individual pavlova

fresh strawberry and passionfruit 

hazelnut crumb

Optional menu extras:

Canapés on arrival bruschetta, salmon blinis, arancini

https://www.shoso.com.au
https://www.facebook.com/ikebanaaustralia

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Shoso's Speech at the Opening of Wa 2019

Good morning, everyone. Welcome to Wa: Melbourne Ikebana Festival. I’d particularly like to welcome our special guests, a representative of Dr Tien Kieu, Member of the Victorian Parliament, Daniel Nguyen, City of Yarra Councillor, Wadaiko Rindo, and Trish Nicholls of Ikebana International, but it’s great to see so many of you here and you are all very welcome.

All of you are part of this first international Ikebana festival. When I said we should call our next exhibition an ikebana festival, not an ikebana exhibition, some of my students laughed, saying “That sounds too big for us”. It is true that it was a bit ambitious, but we needed it and we achieved it thanks to you all.

Why did we need Wa: Melbourne Ikebana Festival?

Firstly, because it can be a very effective vehicle to promote ikebana. Ikebana is not very well recognised in Australia, although it was introduced here over 60 years ago. Many organisations organise exhibitions regularly and some of them have invited ikebana masters from Japan. That is wonderful, but I believe we need to do more to reach the wider community.

Secondly, contemporary conditions have changed. Many people see climate change and environmental sustainability as the biggest problems we face today. Ikebana has a role to play here. Ikebana can teach us that nature is not our resource but rather we are part of nature.

The history of Ikebana suggests that its role has been rather passive for five centuries. For instance, when the middle class emerged in the Edo period, ikebana developed simplified styles to accommodate their needs. When Western culture was introduced to Japan, Ikebana changed again to adjust to the social change. If society changes, ikebana changes. 

But right now may be a time when ikebana can lead contemporary culture. We, alone, cannot change the environment, but by promoting and supporting ikebana, we may be able to influence people to change their way of thinking about the environment. Ikebana has a role to promote a new attitude to nature, which is actually very ancient.


I will talk more about ikebana and nature tomorrow morning.

However, the journey to our inaugural Melbourne Ikebana Festival was not an easy one. We would not have been able to achieve this without the hard work of the team, our committee, sponsors, an anonymous sponsor, many volunteers and all the exhibitors. Thank you all very much.

In particular, I would like to thank the team, Shoan, Shoto, Shokai, Sue, Ryoko and Takako who spent so many hours for this event. Whenever there was a problem they had a solution. They are a very creative and dynamic team and this small budget international culture festival needed just this team. Every time we overcame our problems we realised that we were stronger.

We have overcome many hurdles. The first big hurdle was when a group of people decided to leave Wa, making us a very small group, simply too small to claim "Melbourne Ikebana Festival".

We decided to recruit exhibitors from outside and we successfully recruited wonderful exhibitors including 3 international and 2 interstate exhibitors. We really appreciate their being with us today and their belief in us.

The second was when we were unable to afford to invite a master teacher from Japan. The quote I received was simply too much for us, and I could not ask our students to support my plan.

We had to change our approach. Rather than asking external support, we had to do whatever we could do to make this event an international festival. We organised talks, demos, workshops, markets, and performances. We aimed to show many aspects of ikebana to promote it.

As a result, we were featured in some important media such as 3MBS. Wadaiko Rindo came to show their support for our hard work. International Society of Ikebana Studies decided to co-host a conference with us regularly. Consequently, many of our events have been sold out.

I feel that bringing this Melbourne Ikebana Festival to life was almost a miracle. That miracle was due to the power of Ikebana and power of people who believe in the significance of this event.

http://www.shoso.com.au
https://www.facebook.com/ikebanaaustralia

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Thank you for giving us a full house!

Thank you for giving us a full house!

Wa: Melbourne Ikebana Festival presented Ikebana artist Shoso Shimbo in concert with the Grigoryan Brothers on 31 August 2019. Shoso created 2 large Ikebana works in one hour with assistance from Shoan, Shokai and Shoto. Thank you all for your great support.

Shoso will work with a master jazz pianist, Paul Grabowsky on 20 September 2020 as part of Wa: Melbourne Ikebana Festival. Details will be announced in Shoso's website shortly.

http://www.shoso.com.au
https://www.facebook.com/ikebanaaustralia

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Ikebana Conference at Wa: Ikebana Festival

International Society of Ikebana Studies, Regular Conference, September 2019  

Shoso Shimbo, PhD will talk about the rise of free style ikebana in 1920's as part of Wa: Melbourne Ikebana Festival.

When: 9 am, 1 September 2019

Where: Rosina Auditorium, Abbotsford Convent, Melbourne

Booking: https://www.trybooking.com/book/event?eid=534663&

Influence of the Western Modernism on Perception of Nature in Ikebana: A New Interpretation of Ikenobo Senno Kuden (1542) and Its Hidden Link to the Rise of Free Style in the Modern Japan
Western culture, in particular the Modernism Art Movement, has had an influence on Ikebana since the Meiji period (1868 - 1912). As such, Ikebana has undergone a cultural transformation that is closely related to a redefinition of Ikebana, incorporating a reconsideration of the attitude to nature in Japan. This study focuses on works by Suido Yamane (1893 - 1966), Mirei Shigemori (1896 -1975) and Hiroshi Teshigahara (1927 - 2001) who were particularly conscious of the influence of Western culture on Ikebana.

My talk today is a small part of my research on influence of the Western culture on Ikebana, and it focuses on Suido Yamane who proposed free style arrangements in the 1920’s for the first time in the history of Ikebana. I would like to focus on the relationship between Ikenobo Senno Kuden in the 16th century and emergence of free style Ikebana in the 1920’s.

There is an argument that, in modern Japan under the influence of Western culture, there was a shift in the view of what Ikebana symbolically represents – from universal structural orders to life energy. However, these external and internal approaches were both mentioned in the classic Ikebana text, Ikenobo Senno Kuden (1542). This concept of Ikebana as a representation of life energy did not begin with the reformers in 1920’s & 1930’s, it has been around since the early stage of development in Ikebana and deserves more attention.

This study suggests that with encountering Western culture, Ikebana artists and theorists became aware of the differences in the perception of nature in the West and in Japan. In their effort to incorporate Western attitudes to nature into Ikebana, they needed to reconsider the essence of Ikebana, and develop new theories on Ikebana. This study also suggests that those new theories are often based on Eastern philosophy.

http://www.shoso.com.au
https://www.facebook.com/ikebanaaustralia

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Ikebana Workshop at Melbourne Ikebana Festival

Ikebana Workshops for Beginners
1-5pm, Saturday 31 August 2019 - Ichiyo School
10am-5pm, Sunday 1 September 2019 - Sogetsu School Shoso Shimbo Group
Duration: 50 min
Venue: Yellow Room, Rosina (Yellow Room is next to Rosina Auditorium)
Fee: $35 per person. Father's Day Special ($60 for 2) & Father's Day Family Discount ($100 for 4) - available Sunday only. Details about discounts.
Booking: http://bit.ly/IkebanaConvent 

Ikebana for Kids
1pm & 2pm, Sunday 1 September 2019
Duration: 45 min
Venue: Rosina Auditorium
Age: Year 1 - Year 6
Fee: $25
Booking: http://bit.ly/IkebanaConventKids

Wa: Melbourne Ikebana Festival

http://www.shoso.com.au
https://www.facebook.com/ikebanaaustralia

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Melbourne Ikebana Festival on Radio

Shoto Duke gave a funtastic interview about Wa Melbourne Ikebana Festival at 3MBS radio, one of Melbourne's most popular radio stations. http://bit.ly/3MBSikebana19
The interview starts at the 43 min 14 seconds point.

http://www.shoso.com.au
https://www.facebook.com/ikebanaaustralia

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Melbourne Ikebana Festival Update

Event Details

Wa: Ikebana Exhibition (Free) 
Curator: Rachel Iampolski　
11am - 5pm, Saturday 31 August 2019
10am - 5pm, Sunday 1 September 2019
Rosina Auditorium, Abbotsford Convent, Melbourne
https://abbotsfordconvent.com.au/visit/visitor-information

Wa: Ikebana Exhibition Opening (Private Function)
10am - 11am, Saturday 31 August 2019
Invitation Only

Wa Ikebana Award - Application Closed
The winner of the Wa Ikebana Award 2019 will be announced during the opening ceremony.

Wadaiko Rindo Performance - New Event 
About 10:45 am, Saturday 31 August 2019
Free
Enjoy a great performance by the most popular Japanese drumming group in Australia.
https://wadaikorindo.com/ 

Wa: Ikebana Exhibition Artists' Talk (Free)
11am - 12:00pm, Saturday 31 August 2019
Rosina Auditorium
MC: Takako Routledge
Admission Free
Booking: https://www.trybooking.com/BDQEZ
Please note:
1. The number of tickets for Artists Talk is very limited.
2. If you could not obtain a ticket online, you may be asked to wait for a while to form a new group. Please follow advice from our floor managing staff. Your safety is our first priority. 
3. If it is too crowded, however, please come back to Rosina after 1pm to enjoy our exhibition. Abbotsford Convent has several art galleries, beautiful garden, and nice cafes. 
4. If you have any question, please ask our friendly staff at the reception desk.      

Wa: Ikebana Demonstration - Over 90% tickets sold
12pm - 1:00pm, Saturday 31 August 2019
Rosina Auditorium
MC: Shoan Lo
Fee: $5
Booking: https://www.trybooking.com/BDQES
Six demonstrators will create Ikebana works in 6 min. each. We are pleased to announce that Ms Kagawa, Professor in Ichiyo School, from Tokyo will be one of the presenters. Other presenters include Sandra Marker (Sogetsu NSW), Shoan Lo, Shokai Ikebana, Akemi Suzuki & Aileen (Shoto) Duke. Many of our demonstrators are members of Wa Melbourne Ikebana Festival Committee. We appreciate their hard work for this festival. We are fortunate to have an anonymous sponsor for this demonstration.
Please note:
1. The number of tickets for Ikebana Demonstration is very limited. About 40 seats only.
2. If you could not obtain a ticket online, you may watch the demo standing (no seat available on the day). Please follow advice from our floor managing staff. Your safety is our first priority. 
3. If it is too crowded, however, please come back to Rosina after 1pm to enjoy our exhibition & the works created by our demonstrators. Abbotsford Convent has several art galleries, beautiful garden, and nice cafes. 

Ikebana Workshops for Beginners
1-5pm, Saturday 31 August 2019 - Ichiyo School
10am-5pm, Sunday 1 September 2019 - Sogetsu School Shoso Shimbo Group
Duration: 50 min
Venue: Yellow Room, Rosina (Yellow Room is next to Rosina Auditorium)
Fee: $35 per person
Father's Day Special ($60 for 2) & Father's Day Family Tickets ($100 for 4) Available 
Booking: http://bit.ly/IkebanaConvent 

Ikebana Conference - New Event!

Wa: Melbourne Ikebana Festival is pleased to host a regular conference of the International Society of Ikebana Studies（国際いけ花学会 ）.　
Shoso Shimbo will talk about "Influence of the Western Modernism on Perception of Nature in Ikebana: A New Interpretation of Ikenobo Senno Kuden (1542) and Its Hidden Link to the Rise of Free Style Ikebana in the Modern Japan"
9am - 10am, Sunday 1 September 2019
Fee: $10
Booking: https://www.trybooking.com/BEKXZ

Ikebana for Kids
1pm & 2pm, Sunday 1 September 2019
Duration: 45 min
Venue: Rosina Auditorium
Age: Year 1 - Year 6
Fee: $25
Booking: http://bit.ly/IkebanaConventKids

Ikebana Performance with live Music - Over 85% tickets Sold 
7pm - 8pm, Saturday 31 August 2019
Salon, Melbourne Recital Centre
Booking: http://bit.ly/IkebanaGrigoryan
Shoso Shimbo will create an Ikebana installation with live music by the internationally renowned Grigoryan Brothers.
Details: https://waikebana.blogspot.com/2019/03/ikebana-performance-at-wa.html

http://www.shoso.com.au
https://www.facebook.com/ikebanaaustralia

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Ikebana Conference at Melbourne Ikebana Festival

Wa: Melbourne Ikebana Festival is pleased to host a regular conference of the International Society of Ikebana Studies（国際いけ花学会 ）.　

Shoso Shimbo will talk about "Influence of the Western Modernism on Perception of Nature in Ikebana: A New Interpretation of Ikenobo Senno Kuden (1542) and Its Hidden Link to the Rise of Free Style Ikebana in the Modern Japan"

When: 9am - 10am, Sunday 1 September 2019
Where: Rosina Auditorium, Abbotsford Convent, Melbourne
Fee: $10
Booking: https://www.trybooking.com/BEKXZ

http://www.shoso.com.au
https://www.facebook.com/ikebanaaustralia

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Melbourne Ikebana Festival Update

With international exhibitors, international demo presenters, international ikebana award & international musicians (the Grigoryan Brothers), Wa: Melbourne Ikebana Festival is a great international ikebana event. http://bit.ly/BookWa19

http://www.shoso.com.au
https://www.facebook.com/ikebanaaustralia

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All Programs Are Now Open for Booking - Melbourne Ikebana Festival

Event Details

Please visit http://bit.ly/BookingWa for the latest update. 

Wa: Ikebana Exhibition (Free) 
Curator: Rachel Iampolski　
11am - 5pm, Saturday 31 August 2019
10am - 5pm, Sunday 1 September 2019
Rosina Auditorium, Abbotsford Convent, Melbourne
https://abbotsfordconvent.com.au/visit/visitor-information

Wa: Ikebana Exhibition Opening (Private Function)
10am - 11am, Saturday 31 August 2019
Invitation Only

Wa Ikebana Award
The winner of the Wa Ikebana Award 2019 will be announced during the opening ceremony.

Wa: Ikebana Exhibition Artists' Talk (Free)
11am - 12:00pm, Saturday 31 August 2019
Rosina Auditorium
MC: Takako Routledge
Admission Free
Booking: https://www.trybooking.com/BDQEZ
Please note:
1. The number of tickets for Artists Talk is very limited.
2. If you could not obtain a ticket online, you may be able to see Artists Talk from a distance. Please follow advice from our floor managing staff. Your safety is our first priority. 
3. If it is too crowded, however, please come back to Rosina after 1pm to enjoy our exhibition. Abbotsford Convent has several art galleries, beautiful garden, and nice cafes. 
4. If you have any question, please ask our friendly staff at the reception desk.      

Wa: Ikebana Demonstration
12pm - 1:00pm, Saturday 31 August 2019
Rosina Auditorium
MC: Shoan Lo
Fee: $5
Booking: https://www.trybooking.com/BDQES
Eight demonstrators will create Ikebana works in 6 min. each. We are pleased to announce that Ms Kagawa, Professor in Ichiyo School, from Tokyo will be one of the presenters. Other presenters include Shoan Lo, Shokai Ikebana & Aileen (Shoto) Duke. Many of our demonstrators are members of Wa Melbourne Ikebana Festival Committee. We appreciate their hard work for this festival. We are fortunate to have an anonymous sponsor for this demonstration.
Please note:
1. The number of tickets for Ikebana Demonstration is very limited. About 40 seats only.
2. If you could not obtain a ticket online, you may be able to buy a ticket ($2 standing only, no seat available) on the day. The number of those tickets is limited. Please follow advice from our floor managing staff. Your safety is our first priority. 
3. If it is too crowded, however, please come back to Rosina after 1pm to enjoy our exhibition & the works created by our demonstrators. Abbotsford Convent has several art galleries, beautiful garden, and nice cafes. 

Ikebana Performance with live Music
7pm - 8pm, Saturday 31 August 2019
Salon, Melbourne Recital Centre
Booking: http://bit.ly/IkebanaGrigoryan
Shoso Shimbo will create an Ikebana installation with live music by the internationally renowned Grigoryan Brothers.
Details: https://waikebana.blogspot.com/2019/03/ikebana-performance-at-wa.html

Ikebana Workshops for Beginners
1-5pm, Saturday 31 August 2019 - Ichiyo School
10am-5pm, Sunday 1 September 2019 - Sogetsu School Shoso Shimbo Group
Duration: 50 min
Venue: Yellow Room, Rosina (Yellow Room is next to Rosina Auditorium)
Fee: $35 per person
Booking: http://bit.ly/IkebanaConvent 

Ikebana for Kids
1pm & 2pm, Sunday 1 September 2019
Duration: 45 min
Venue: Rosina Auditorium
Age: Year 1 - Year 6
Fee: $25
Booking: http://bit.ly/IkebanaConventKids

http://www.shoso.com.au 
https://www.facebook.com/ikebanaaustralia

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Wa: Melbourne Ikebana Festival Update

Application to exhibit at Wa: Melbourne Ikebana Festival has closed for international participants.
Application is now open for local Ikebana practitioners. Please apply by 8 July 2019. 
https://waikebana.blogspot.com/p/exhibitor.html

http://www.shoso.com.au
https://www.facebook.com/ikebanaaustralia

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Wa Exhibitor: Shoso Shimbo

Shoso Shimbo is one of the exhibitors at Wa: Melbourne Ikebana Festival. waikebana.blogspot.com

Shoso Shimbo PhD is an artist with over 30 years experience in Ikebana. He was selected as one of “Australia’s top floral designers” (Belle) and has won multiple awards including the Gold Award at the Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show. He is the Arnold Bloch Leiber Prize winner at the Yering Station Sculpture 2017. His recent commissions include a public work of art for the Archibald Award Exhibition 2015 and the Wye River Project 2016.

Shoso is a directer of International Society of Ikebana Studies, Ikebana Gallery Award and he teaches Japanese Aesthetics at RMIT Short Courses. He is the Secretary-General of Wa: Melbourne Ikebana Festival 2019. He presents Ikebana performance with the Grigoryan Brothers at Melbourne Recital Centre as part of Wa: Melbourne Ikebana Festival 2019.

Shoso has an MA in Japanese Studies, a Master of Fine Art and PhD in Education.

< Solo Exhibition>
2013 Distilling Nature: Master of Fine Art Project, MADA Project Gallery, Monash University

<Ikebana Exhibitions (Selected)>
2018 Wa: Ikebana Exhibition (since 2015)
2014 Ikebana Exhibition - Shoso Shimbo Group (since 2009)

<Curated Group Exhibitions (Selected)>
2018 Yering Station Sculpture Exhibition
2018 Lorne Sculpture
2017 Yering Station Sculpture Exhibition
2016 Lorne Sculpture
2014 Lorne Sculpture
2013 Twenty Five Sculptures at the World Trade Centre, The WTC Gallery
2013 Deakin University Small Contemporary Sculpture Award Finalists Exhibition
2012 Annual Sculpture Exhibition, Toyota Community Spirit Gallery (since 2010)
2012 Glen Eira Artists' Exhibition, Glen Eira City Council Gallery
2012 Lorne Sculpture

<Commissioned Works / Special Displays (Selected)>
2018 Biennale of Australian Art (BOAA)
2016 Wye River Project, Lorne Sculpture
2015 Public Artwork for Archibald Award Exhibition, Ballarat Art Gallery
2014 Light On / Light Off, Upper West Side, Melbourne
2013 Christmas installation for the City of Ballarat
2012 New Wave Art Festival, National Gallery of Victoria
2005 Melbourne Fashion Festival, Mural Hall & Shop windows, Myer, City

<Awards (Selected)>
2019 Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show, Silver Award in Shop Window Display Competition
2017 The Arnold Bloch Leiber Prize at the Yering Station Sculpture Exhibition
2006 Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show (Gold Award)

<Publication (Selected)>
2016 Environmental Art and Ikebana, International Journal of Ikebana Studies (IJIS), 4, pp. 27-38.
2015 Flowers in Contemporary Art, International Journal of Ikebana Studies (IJIS), 3, pp.11-19.
2015 Ikebana to Contemporary Art: Rosalie Gascoigne, The IAFOR Academic Review, Vol.1, Issue 2, pp.16-20. 　　
2014 Ikebana in English: Bibliographical Essay, International Journal of Ikebana Studies (IJIS), 2, pp.99-107.
2013 Hiroshi Teshigahara in the Expanded Field of Ikebana, The International Journal of Ikebana Studies, 1, p.31-52.

<Conference Papers (Selected)>                                                             
2018 Creativity & Education: Environmental Art as a Vehicle of Message. Central de Studii European, Facultatea de Drept, Universitatea Alexandru Ioan Cuza, Co-funded by the Erasmus + Programme of the European Union, April 17, Iasi, Romania.
2018 Environmental Art as Public Art. Creating Utopia Conference 2018 Sponsored by Deakin University, Lorne Sculpture Biennale, 22-25th March, Qdos Arts Lorne.
2018 Japanese Aesthetics and Environmental Art. The Asian Conference on Arts and Humanities, The International Academic Forum. March 30 - April 1, Kobe Japan.
2017 Transition of Environmental Art: In Search of the Strategies for Sustainability. The Asian Conference on Arts and Humanities, The International Academic Forum. March 30 - April 2, Kobe, Japan.
2015 Power in the Discourse of Art: Ephemeral Arts as Counter-monuments and Beyond, The Sixth Asian Conference on Arts and Humanities. The International Academic Forum. April 2-4, Osaka, Japan.
2013 Ikebana to Contemporary Art: Cross Cultural Transformation in Rosalie Gascoigne, The Asian Conference on Cultural Studies. The International Academic Forum. May 24-26, Osaka, Japan.

Web: www.shoso.com.au

日本語ブログ：https://ikebana-shoso.blogspot.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ikebanaaustralia/

Instagram: shoso_shimbo

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Wa: Melbourne Ikebana Festival Update

Ikebana Performance with the Grigoryan Brothers (Melbourne Recital Centre): Over 50% of tickets sold. http://bit.ly/IkebanaGrigoryan

Ikebana Workshops (Adults & Kids class): Booking sites are ready!
http://bit.ly/IkebanaConvent Kids Class http://bit.ly/IkebanaConventKids

Ikebana Demonstration & Artists Talk: Please book from 1 July 2019. https://waikebana.blogspot.com/p/program.html

Would you like to exhibit your ikebana work at Melbourne Ikebana Festival?
Application will close on 30 June 2019. https://waikebana.blogspot.com/p/exhibitor.html

http://www.shoso.com.au
https://www.facebook.com/ikebanaaustralia

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Programs: Melbourne Ikebana Festival

Event Details: Visit www.waikebana.blogspot.com for the latest updates

Wa: Ikebana Exhibition (Free)　
11am - 5pm, Saturday 31 August 2019
10am - 5pm, Sunday 1 September 2019
Rosina Auditorium, Abbotsford Convent, Melbourne
https://abbotsfordconvent.com.au/visit/visitor-information
Admission Free

Wa: Ikebana Exhibition Opening (Private Function)
10am - 11am, Saturday 31 August 2019
Invitation Only

Wa Ikebana Award
The winner of the Wa Ikebana Award 2019 will be announced during the opening ceremony.

Wa: Ikebana Exhibition Artists' Talk (Free)
11am - 12:00pm, Saturday 31 August 2019
Rosina Auditorium
Admission Free
Free tickets will be available on 1 July 2019.
Booking: Under Construction
Please note:
1. The number of tickets for Artists' Talk is very limited.
2. If you could not obtain a ticket online, you may be able to see Artists' Talk from a distance. Please follow advice from our floor managing staff. Your safety is our first priority. 
3. If it is too crowded, however, please come back to Rosina after 1pm to enjoy our exhibition. Abbotsford Convent has several art galleries, beautiful garden, and nice cafes. 
4. If you have any question, please ask our friendly staff at the reception desk.      

Ikebana Demonstration
12pm - 1:00pm, Saturday 31 August 2019
Rosina Auditorium
Eight demonstrators will create Ikebana works in 6 min. each. We are pleased to announce that Ms Kagawa, Professor in Ichiyo School, from Tokyo will be one of the presenters.
Fee: $5 per person
Tickets will be available on 1 July 2019.
Booking: Under Construction
Please note:
1. The number of tickets for Ikebana Demonstration is very limited. About 40 seats only. 
2. If you could not obtain a ticket online, you may be able to buy a ticket ($2 standing only, no seat available) on the day. Please follow advice from our floor managing staff. Your safety is our first priority. 
3. If it is too crowded, however, please come back to Rosina after 1pm to enjoy our exhibition & the works created by our demonstrators. Abbotsford Convent has several art galleries, beautiful garden, and nice cafes. 

Ikebana Performance with live Music
7pm - 8pm, Saturday 31 August 2019
Salon, Melbourne Recital Centre
Shoso Shimbo will create an Ikebana installation with live music by the internationally renowned Grigoryan Brothers.
Details: https://waikebana.blogspot.com/2019/03/ikebana-performance-at-wa.html
Booking: http://bit.ly/IkebanaGrigoryan

Ikebana Workshops for Beginners
1-5pm, Saturday 31 August 2019 - Ichiyo School
10am-5pm, Sunday 1 September 2019 - Sogetsu School Shoso Shimbo Group
Duration: 50 min
Venue: Yellow Room, Rosina (Yellow Room is next to Rosina Auditorium)
Fee: $35 per person
Booking: http://bit.ly/IkebanaConvent 

Ikebana for Kids
1pm & 2pm, Sunday 1 September 2019
Duration: 45 min
Venue: Rosina Auditorium
Age: Year 1 - Year 6
Fee: $25
Booking: http://bit.ly/IkebanaConventKids

http://www.shoso.com.au
https://www.facebook.com/ikebanaaustralia

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Wa: Melbourne Ikebana Festival - Update

Join Ikebana workshops at Melbourne Ikebana Festival (waikebana.blogspot.com).
Our booking site is ready!
Booking: http://bit.ly/IkebanaConvent

http://www.shoso.com.au
https://www.facebook.com/ikebanaaustralia

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Wa: Melbourne Ikebana Festival 2019

Please join our exhibition. Welcoming exhibitors from all over the world.
Application will close soon.
Please visit wa.ikebana.blogsopt.com for the details.

http://www.shoso.com.au
https://www.facebook.com/ikebanaaustralia

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Ikebana Performance, 31 August 2019

Wa: Melbourne Ikebana Festival presents Ikebana artist Shoso Shimbo in concert with the Grigoryan Brothers.

An award-winning floral artist and sculptor, Shoso has over 30 years experience as an Ikebana practitioner in the Sogetsu school. After completing Ikebana demonstrations in Japan, Germany and Romania in 2018, in this show he brings together his sculptural skills and his deep knowledge of floral design to create an installation in real time.

Recognised for their “uncommon originality and authority” (The NY Times), The Grigoryan Brothers will select a program specially for this event from their broad repertoire embracing genres such as classic, jazz and contemporary music.

The intimate nature of the Primrose Potter Salon makes it the perfect venue for this event. The audience can see the skill of the Grigoryan Brothers as they play, and witness the final work emerging as Shoso brings the elements together over the performance.

Tickets: http://bit.ly/IkebanaGrigoryan

http://www.shoso.com.au
https://www.facebook.com/ikebanaaustralia

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