Ikebana anyone?

This was my first ever attempt at Ikebana. It took me about 1.5 hours to do... no kidding. It may look simple, but actually it's rather mathematical, and the aesthetical approach is very different to that of western flower arrangement.

We were introduced to a style of ikebana called "The Rising Form". This means that there is a tall straight 'subject' (in my case in the form of Osmunda Japonica, the very strange curling plant, with the flat round bit up top) in the centre, and then the 'object', 1/3 the height coming out in front at a 45 degree angle (seen here in the form of anthurium). Then you put in other bits at various angles (another anthurium, some more japonica and those frondy things which are called Asparagus eochinchinensis), which was the bit that caused me the most stress cos I really had no idea what kind of form it should take. However, after a few very helpful hints from our lovely teacher, who speaks English so poetically, I managed to arrange this little thing.

At the end of the lesson we take pictures of our little creation, and take a look at everyone elses and make little comments, and then we have to take it all apart - but we get to take our flowers and rearrange them again once we get home... Of course I don't have the ikebana making stuff, so mine is looking very un-Japanese arranged in an oversized mug on my bookshelf! But it's a nice reminder of the fun I had at the very least.

The photo sadly does not do it much justice, cos you can't see the depth or textures really - and these kinds of things are very important in Ikebana! Well, despite being confused and generally having no idea what I was doing, I had a very relaxing evening and spent time with some really great women - Japanese and foreign alike. I will be returning again in 2 weeks time to have another go with another set of interesting flowers and greenery.