Sogetsu, the Eternal Future of Ikebana?
This school of flower arranging, founded in the early 20th century, encourages students to escape the formal nature of this traditional art.

© Minh Häusler
Does the future of ikebana, the traditional Japanese art dedicated to flower arrangement, lie in afloral arrangements? In de-organising? Or in trans-vegetalism? This is what the dynamism of Sogetsu, the Tokyo-based school founded in 1927 by Sofu Teshigahara, would lead us to believe.
Since its creation, the master and his descendants have been striving to breathe new life into this traditional skill. The creations of qualified photographer and former student of the Teshigahara family, Minh Häusler, also open up new horizons. With Sogetsu, formalism seems to be fading to make way for a pleasant sense of melancholy, one that grows with age.
More information on the Sogetsu ikebana school can be found on its website.

© Minh Häusler

© Minh Häusler

© Minh Häusler

© Minh Häusler

© Minh Häusler
TRENDING
-
The Tattoos that Marked the Criminals of the Edo Period
Traditional tattoos were strong signifiers; murderers had head tattoos, while theft might result in an arm tattoo.
-
Toulouse-Lautrec and His Japanese Influences
Inspired by his Japanese counterparts, the painter reinvented form and technique within his art and is indebted to printmaking techniques.
-
Recipe for ‘Okayu’ from the Film ‘Princess Mononoke’
This rice soup seasoned with miso is served by a monk to Ashitaka, one of the heroes in Hayao Miyazaki's film.
-
Recipe for Ichiraku Ramen from ‘Naruto’ by Danielle Baghernejad
Taken from the popular manga with the character of the same name who loves ramen, this dish is named after the hero's favourite restaurant.
-
Yoshitomo Nara: What Lies Behind Insouciance and Appearances
Yoshitomo Nara's little girls with big eyes unsettle the viewer with the violence they exude and force them to discern the imperceptible.