New Publication: Flowers in Contemporary Art

Shoso Shimbo's new article was published.

Shimbo, Shoso (2015). Flowers in Contemporary Art: From an Ikebana Perspective, International Journal of Ikebana Studies, 3, 11-19.

Abstract

This essay considers similarities and differences between contemporary art using flowers as medium, and Ikebana. It investigates strategies used by contemporary artists dealing with flowers, and comments on the dearth of discourse on flowers in Ikebana. This essay focuses on works by three contemporary artists, Andy Goldsworthy, Sarah Sze and Anya Gallaccio. Flowers in their works are analysed in three ways: as a medium, in intrinsic context and in extrinsic context. While in some aspects contemporary artists who use flowers in their work demonstrate a proximity to Ikebana ⎯ for instance emphasising their ephemeral nature ⎯ contemporary artists use flowers as signifiers within intrinsic and extrinsic contexts too, perhaps framing flowers as nonsignificant everyday objects, or references to the feminine in art history.

How to obtain a copy of International Journal of Ikebana Studies (IJIS)

IJIS is currently available only in hard copy. It costs 1000 Yen plus postage. (IJIS will be available online sometime soon).  

https://ikebanastudies.wordpress.com

isis.ikebana@gmail.com 

和文要旨は以下をご参照下さい。
http://ikebana-shoso.blogspot.com.au/2016/06/blog-post_30.html

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

Wa: Ikebana Exhibition

Wa: Ikebana Exhibition by Shoso Shimbo

Shoso Shimbo and his students will join an Ikebana exhibition with other Ikebana schools in Melbourne.  Please view, download and SHARE the poster. Web: https://www.facebook.com/wa.ikebana/

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

Ikebana for Design Institute of Australia

To welcome nation's top designers & design journalists, Shoso Shimbo created an Ikebana sculpture for a Design Institute of Australia's event, In conversation with Piero Gesualdi at Mondopiero, 28 Brunswick St, Fitzroy, Melbourne.
http://www.design.org.au/events/event/dialoguepm-in-conversation-with-piero-gesualdi

Shoso reused the burnt timbers he collected for the Wye River Project 2016. The other materials are succulent and wisteria vines.
http://www.shoso.com.au/2016/04/wye-river-project-4.html

Shoso's this work will be on display at Mondopiero until the end of June 2016.

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

Daily Meditation

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

Ikebana Today 47

I ‘d like to summarise what I have been writing about Ikebana and art. Their relationships became particularly interesting for me in studying the two periods: from 1920’s to 1950’s and current. 

Ikebana has been influenced significantly by Western art in the birth of free style Ikebana in the 1920’s and its boom after the war. Generally Ikebana is regarded as a Japanese traditional art form, but it would not be what it is today without the influence of Western art. How the notion of Ikebana as Art influenced the creation of free style Ikebana and how it was perceived by Japanese during the Ikebana boom, which claimed Ikebana as art, are fascinating topics for further research. I’d like to welcome such research for our journal, International Journal of Ikebana Studies.

Also I’m interested in the relationship in pursuing my own art practice. How can I make Ikebana effective in the context of the contemporary art is a crucial issue for an Ikebana artist as well as a contemporary sculptor. An interesting artist for me is again Takashi Murakami, who made Manga effective as an art form in the context of contemporary art.  

In this issue, I would like to show my table arrangement for the Victorian government. When they had a special dinner inviting Japanese guests, they chose my works. I asked Mr Hanashima to create 15 bamboo containers and used florist form to fix the flowers.

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

Vertical Garden Project (1)

Shoso Shimbo will design a vertical garden (10.5m wide X 5.5m high) for a house in the Melbourne's city fringe. It will be about 8 times larger than the vertical garden he designed for Mondopiero.
http://www.shoso.com.au/2015/12/shooss-works-at-mondopiero.html

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

Daily Meditation

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