Shoso was selected by Belle magazine as one of six “Australia’s top floral designers” and has won multiple awards including the Gold Award at the Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show. His work was selected for the prestigious publication, International Floral Art 2014/2015, 2016/2017 & 2021/2022 Stichting Kunstboek (Belgium).
His sculptural works have been featured in some of the major contemporary art exhibitions including the Toyota Sculpture Exhibition, Lorne Sculpture, Deakin University Contemporary Small Sculpture Award Finalists Exhibition, Yering Station Sculpture Exhibition and the New Wave Art Festival at the NGV.
He won the Arnold Bloch Leiber Prize at the Yering Station Sculpture Exhibition 2017. His recent commissions include a public work of art for the Archibald Award Exhibition 2015 at the Art Gallery of Ballarat (2015), the Wye River Project as part of the Lorne Sculpture (2016) & Sculpture commission, Le Pine, Kew East, Melbourne (2020).
A common theme through many of his works is harmony with nature's organic order and the relationship between man and nature, where man is a part of the natural order rather than the owner of it.
Shoso has an MA in Japanese Studies, a Master of Fine Art and PhD in Education.
He is also qualified as a Shinto priest and as a garden designer (Japan Horticultural Society) specialising in Japanese gardens. He is a garden designer at Tsubo Zen Gardens.
He is a vice president of International Society of Ikebana Research and he taught Japanese Aesthetics at RMIT University Short Courses from 2014 to 2020. He is a founding director of Ikebana Gallery Award, Wa: Melbourne Ikebana Festival, and Zoom Ikebana Dojo.
He has numerous publications on Ikebana and environmental art and is a regular contributor to the International Journal of Ikebana Studies.
2022 Ikebana Exhibition at Villa Alba (Shoso Shimbo & His Students)
He is a vice president of International Society of Ikebana Research and he taught Japanese Aesthetics at RMIT University Short Courses from 2014 to 2020. He is a founding director of Ikebana Gallery Award, Wa: Melbourne Ikebana Festival, and Zoom Ikebana Dojo.
He has numerous publications on Ikebana and environmental art and is a regular contributor to the International Journal of Ikebana Studies.
Solo Exhibition
2013 Distilling Nature: Master of Fine Art Project, MADA Project Gallery, Monash University
Curated Group Exhibitions (Selected)
2022 Wa ∙ Ikebana Exhibition (Melbourne Ikebana Festival), Abbotsford Convent (Since 2015)2022 Ikebana Exhibition at Villa Alba (Shoso Shimbo & His Students)
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
Deakin University Small Contemporary Sculpture Award Finalists Exhibition
2012 Annual Sculpture Exhibition, Toyota Community Spirit Gallery (since 2010)
Glen Eira Artists' Exhibition, Glen Eira City Council Gallery
2012 Lorne Sculpture
2010 Greater Than One, Monash University Faculty Gallery
2020 Sculpture commission, Le Pine, Kew East, Melbourne
2019 Ikebana display, RMIT Open Day
2018 Biennale of Australian Art (BOAA), Ballarat
2018 Ikebana Demonstration, International Academic Forum, Kobe, Japan
2018 Lorne Sculpture
2016 Ikebana Display, The Snow Travel Expo, Japan Foundation
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
2009 Chelsea Flower Show, UK
2005 Melbourne Fashion Festival, Mural Hall & Shop windows, Myer, City
2005 Ellerslie Flower Show, Auckland, NZ
2017 The Arnold Bloch Leiber Prize at the Yering Station Sculpture Exhibition
2006 Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show (Gold Award)
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
Deakin University Small Contemporary Sculpture Award Finalists Exhibition
2012 Annual Sculpture Exhibition, Toyota Community Spirit Gallery (since 2010)
Glen Eira Artists' Exhibition, Glen Eira City Council Gallery
2012 Lorne Sculpture
2010 Greater Than One, Monash University Faculty Gallery
Ikebana Performance
2022 Ikebana Performance with Paul Grabowsky, Melbourne Recital Centre
2019 Ikebana performance with the Grigoryan Brothers, Melbourne Recital Centre
2019 Ikebana performance, Suntory Roku Launch, Crown Hotel
2019 Ikebana performance, Suntory Roku Launch, Crown Hotel
2019 Ikebana performance: The way of flower, Melbourne Recital Centre
Commissioned Works / Special Displays (Selected)
2022 Regular Ikebana Display for Saint Dreux (Emporium Melbourne) & Parkside Plastic Surgery
2020 New Year’s display, Koko restaurant, Crown Hotel (Since 2009) 2020 Sculpture commission, Le Pine, Kew East, Melbourne
2019 Ikebana display, RMIT Open Day
2018 Biennale of Australian Art (BOAA), Ballarat
2018 Ikebana Demonstration, International Academic Forum, Kobe, Japan
2018 Lorne Sculpture
2016 Ikebana Display, The Snow Travel Expo, Japan Foundation
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
2009 Chelsea Flower Show, UK
2005 Melbourne Fashion Festival, Mural Hall & Shop windows, Myer, City
2005 Ellerslie Flower Show, Auckland, NZ
Award (Selected)
2019 Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show, Silver Award in Shop Window Display Competition2017 The Arnold Bloch Leiber Prize at the Yering Station Sculpture Exhibition
2006 Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show (Gold Award)
Publication - See "Publication" Page
Bibliography (Selected)
2022 The Age, 5 August 2022.
2020 International Floral Art 2021/2022. Oostkamp: Stichting Kunstboek.
2015 International Floral Art 2016/2017. Oostkamp: Stichting Kunstboek.
2013 International Floral Art 2014/2015. Oostkamp: Stichting Kunstboek.
2012 ABC Radio, 30 March.
2012 Floral Design Magazine, Feb, pp.38-53.
2009 Nine AM, Channel 10, October.
2009 M, The Sunday Age, March 29, p.20.
2006 Dumbo Feather, Issue 7, pp.50-67.
2006 Master of Ceremonies, Belle, January, p.188.
2006 Garden gurus, Channel 9, May.
2004 Australia's top floral designers, Belle, September, p.106.
2004 Good Morning Australia, Channel 10, 29 June.
Beleura House & Garden
2013 International Floral Art 2014/2015. Oostkamp: Stichting Kunstboek.
2012 ABC Radio, 30 March.
2012 Floral Design Magazine, Feb, pp.38-53.
2009 Nine AM, Channel 10, October.
2009 M, The Sunday Age, March 29, p.20.
2006 Dumbo Feather, Issue 7, pp.50-67.
2006 Master of Ceremonies, Belle, January, p.188.
2006 Garden gurus, Channel 9, May.
2004 Australia's top floral designers, Belle, September, p.106.
2004 Good Morning Australia, Channel 10, 29 June.
Clients List (Selected)
Apollo Bay Music Festival Beleura House & Garden
Chi Hair Dresser (Canterbury)
Chotto
City of Ballarat
Costume National (Melbourne GPO)
Evado Clinical Software
Chotto
City of Ballarat
Costume National (Melbourne GPO)
Evado Clinical Software
Glen Eira City Council
Hanabishi Japanese Restaurant (Melbourne)
Holmesglen Institute of TAFE
Japan Cup (Moony Pond)
Japan Foundation
Japanese for Peace
Kazari & Ziguzagu
Koko Japanese Restaurant, Crown Hotel
Korowa Anglican Girls' School
Hanabishi Japanese Restaurant (Melbourne)
Holmesglen Institute of TAFE
Japan Cup (Moony Pond)
Japan Foundation
Japanese for Peace
Kazari & Ziguzagu
Koko Japanese Restaurant, Crown Hotel
Korowa Anglican Girls' School
Lesley Kehoe Galleries
Made in Japan
Mars Marketing Consultancy
Mayer (Melbourne)
Mazda Automobile
Made in Japan
Mars Marketing Consultancy
Mayer (Melbourne)
Mazda Automobile
Melbourne Fashion Festival
Mitsuno Japanese Restaurant (Malvern)
Mondopiero
National Gallery of Victoria
NEC Australia
Nikolaous Institute of Philanthropy
Olympus Australia
Parkside Plastic Surgery
Renouf & Associates Pty Ltd
Mitsuno Japanese Restaurant (Malvern)
Mondopiero
National Gallery of Victoria
NEC Australia
Nikolaous Institute of Philanthropy
Olympus Australia
Parkside Plastic Surgery
Renouf & Associates Pty Ltd
Richmond Library - City of Yarra
RMIT Short Courses - Open Day
Saint Dreux (Emporium Melbourne)
RMIT Short Courses - Open Day
Saint Dreux (Emporium Melbourne)
Santa Maria College
Shelford Girls' Grammar School
Supernormal Cantine
Star of the Sea College
State Government Victoria
Star of the Sea College
State Government Victoria
The Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria
Shoso's logo is his own family crest. The crest, Ken Katabami means swords and oxalis corniculata (creeping woodsorrel). The original design of the crest was first used in Heian period (794 - 1185). Swords are symbol of samurai spirit and the three leaves represent compassion, wisdom and virtue.
Shoso Shimbo's Logo
Shoso's logo is his own family crest. The crest, Ken Katabami means swords and oxalis corniculata (creeping woodsorrel). The original design of the crest was first used in Heian period (794 - 1185). Swords are symbol of samurai spirit and the three leaves represent compassion, wisdom and virtue.
