Melbourne Ikebana Festival, 7 and 8 September 2024ikebanafestival.com
Longing for AutumnShoso Shimbo's Solo Exhibition, Distilling Nature, Monash University, February 2013
Christmas Installation for the City of Ballarat, 2013An official servay found that Shoso's magical tunnel was the most popular among the people in the city.
BouquetsShoso's floral works are a special addition to your wedding or other special events.
Bridal BouquetsShoso specialises in fully wired bridal bouquets.

Sunday, 20 December 2020

Ikebana Calendar

By 11:12

26 December 2020: Zoom Ikebana Dojo, Pattern Level 2.

25 - 31 December 2020: Second entry period for the Ikebana Gallery Award 2021.

13 & 16 January 2021: A special term starts for Shoso’s students.  


Because this is a special time for many reasons, we added an extra term in            January 2021. Fees are either $35 per session or $75 per term (Up to 3                sessions, to be paid on the first session). New students welcome. 

Please note that the COVID related regulations that we are all so familiar with        would apply. 

Please book as we need to manage the number of students. 

You can mix Sat & Wed classes as usual. Attend 3 sessions out of 6 sessions        in January. Thank you.     


    Wednesday Class (1:00 - 2:30 pm)

    January 13, 20, 27

    Saturday Class (10:00 - 11:30 am) 

    January 16, 23, 30


    How to book & pay: three options.

  1. Book online & pay by credit card: https://cal.smoothbook.co/5fbf1b8f2bb1eb37f3bde318. You can cancel your booking by 12 January. Cancellation fee (institution fees) will apply.  
  2. Email to book & pay by bank transfer by 13 January: Bank Details - Account: Shoso Shimbo, BSB: 033-070, No. 286877 
  3. Email to book & pay cash on the first day: Please note late fee will apply if you don’t pay on the first day. 

16 January 2021: Ikebana Dojo Special Program 

17 January 2021: ISIR online conference. Free admission. 

26 January 2021: An internationally renowned ikebana master, Mr Ken Katayama will join Ikebana Dojo again as a guest facilitator. His sessions with us in August were video recorded and available on YouTube. Enjoy the sessions by one of Japan’s most popular Ikebana masters. Follow Ikebana Dojo website for updates. www.ikebanadojo.org

3 & 6 February 2021: Term 1 starts. Details will be announced shortly. Please read our new terms and conditions.  

11&12 September 2021: Wa Melbourne Ikebana Festival. https://bit.ly/MelbourneIkebana


https://www.shoso.com.au 

Wednesday, 2 December 2020

Ikebana Calendar

By 22:21

30 November 2020: Deadline for ikebana essay. International Society of Ikebana Research (ISIR), www.ikebana.link.


5 & 12 December 2020: Zoom Ikebana Dojo, Contrast Level 2.


19 & 26 December 2020: Zoom Ikebana Dojo, Pattern Level 2.


25 - 31 December 2020: Second entry period for the Ikebana Gallery Award 2021.


13 & 16 January 2021: A special term starts for Shoso’s students.  


16 January 2021: Ikebana Dojo Special Program 


17 January 2021: International Society of Ikebana Studies, ISIR online conference. Free admission. 


26 January 2021 (to be confirmed): An internationally renowned ikebana master, Mr Ken Katayama will join Ikebana Dojo again as a guest facilitator. His sessions with us in August were video recorded and available on YouTube. Enjoy the sessions by one of Japan’s most popular Ikebana masters. Follow Ikebana Dojo website for updates. www.ikebanadojo.org


30 January 2021: Ikebana Dojo Special Program 


3 & 6 February 2021: Term 1 starts. Details will be announced shortly. Please read our new terms and conditions.  


11&12 September 2021: Wa Melbourne Ikebana Festival. https://bit.ly/MelbourneIkebana


https://www.shoso.com.au 

Monday, 16 November 2020

Wednesday, 4 November 2020

Sunday, 25 October 2020

Ikebana Dojo - Four Ikebana Principles 2

By 21:09


Join an online learning community using Zoom. Ikebana Dojo is not an online ikebana workshop, in which you can create your ikebana work by simply following instructions. Ikebana Dojo asks you to be more proactive. It is a great aid for independent ikebana training (Jishu Tore - in Japanese).


A series of sessions, Four Ikebana Principles starting from 7 November 2020.


When: 

Balance: 4:00pm - 4:30pm, Saturday 7 November 2020 Fully Booked

Balance: 4:45pm - 5:15pm, Saturday 7 November 2020

Balance: 4:00pm - 4:30pm, Saturday 14 November 2020

Movement: 4:00pm - 4:30pm, Saturday 21 November 2020

Contrast: 4:00pm - 4:30pm, Saturday 5 December 2020

Pattern: 4:00pm - 4:30pm, Saturday 19 December 2020


How much: $10 for one session


Details: http://www.ikebanadojo.org/2020/08/four-ikebana-elements.html

Please follow the site by subscribing at “Follow by Email”  


Note: Now you can watch a video tutorial for free. Subscribe our Youtube Channel. http://www.ikebanadojo.org/2020/07/ikebana-dojo-contrast-1.html  


About Four Ikebana Principles Level 2: In “Four Ikebana Principles 2”, we will review classic basic styles in ikebana. You will learn that each basic style contains in itself all of the four ikebana principles, Balance, Movement, Contrast and Pattern. Rather than learning all at once, we focus on each principle one by one in this series. If you feel your foundation is a bit weak, this series may help you to boost your artistic development.


Following diagrams is a great way to learn ikebana, especially for beginners. It will provide you with solid foundation to develop as an artist in ikebana or any other fields. If you follow diagrams, your work reveals ikebana principles almost automatically, without paying much attention to them. That is a great aspect of learning basic styles. 


But it has a shortfall. 


Following diagrams or classic formulas is not the end of learning ikebana. At a certain stage you have to move to be free. A better way is to follow materials rather than formulas. Rather than manipulating materials to fit into the set formula, find the energy of life in natural materials, and follow it. 


This process is often the transition from creating basic styles to free style arrangements. Many ikebana practitioners have found it difficult to make that transition. While their basic styles had ikebana principles, their free style arrangements may contain hardly any ikebana principles. Your work is not ikebana without ikebana principles. Unfortunately, many ikebana courses have not addressed the difficulty in this transition properly.


The problem is that you are expected to have acquired ikebana principles intrinsically without any explicit explanation after practising basic styles. It is assumed that you will be able to start making free style arrangements based on having acquired a good understanding of ikebana principles just from following the diagrams. However, can we expect all ikebana practitioners to be really aware of the ikebana principles at the end of study of basic styles?         


To move to making free style arrangements smoothly, you need to BE AWARE what you have learned in basic styles, in particular four ikebana principles. Ikebana Dojo Curriculum was designed to help you be aware of them. We hope many people will have a better understanding of free style ikebana. 


https://www.shoso.com.au 




Thursday, 17 September 2020

Monday, 31 August 2020

Tuesday, 25 August 2020

Ikebana Calendar, August 2020

By 20:22

June 2020: Sculpture Installed! Shoan Lo & Shoso Shimbo were commissioned to design art works (stainless steel sculpture and wall piece ) for the newly built Le Pine Hall in Kew. Both works reflect ikebana aesthetics and philosophy.

July 2020: Finalists for the Ikebana Gallery Award 202 announced. https://ikebanaaustralia.blogspot.com

August 2020: Winners of the Ikebana Gallery Award 2020 announced. https://ikebanaaustralia.blogspot.com

20 August 2020: “Shoso 2020”, a collection of Shoso’s work from 2016 to 2020 is available with eBook (Aus$4.99) or hardcover version. http://bit.ly/Shoso2020

25 August 2020: An internationally renowned ikebana master, Mr Ken Katayama joins Ikebana Dojo as a guest facilitator. His sessions have been fully booked. The session will be recorded and will be available on YouTube.

29 August 2020: Shoso will give a talk on Tea Flower using Zoom. Closed event. 

5 September 2020: Zoom Ikebana Dojo, Topic - Line 1.

24 - 30 September 2020: First entry period for the Ikebana Gallery Award 2021.

11&12 September 2021: Wa Melbourne Ikebana Festival.



Thursday, 20 August 2020

eBook "Shoso Shimbo 2020"

By 23:17



Special Offer Aus$4.99 until 31 Aug 2020. 発売記念価格$4.99 (eBook)
Normal Price: Aus $14.99 (eBook), Aus $119 (hardcover)  


Introduction


This is the second collection of Shoso Shimbo’s work , following the first collection, Shoso 2016. It focuses on his works from 2016 to 2020. This is a significant period for Shoso’s career as an artist, expanding the possibilities of Ikebana into the areas of contemporary art, and environmental art in particular.

Shoso has been exploring environmental art from an Ikebana perspective. It is in a sense investigating Western art in the light of Eastern traditions of art.

Some traditional aspects of Eastern art can offer a different perspective on our attitudes to the environment. Art may not be able to instantly solve the difficult problems we currently face, but it can raise questions about the role of capitalism in environmental degradation.

Shoso 2020 reveals his direction toward new type of minimalism, where Japanese aesthetics are re-examined in the age of environmental crisis. Shoso is exploring the possibilities of a union between environmental aesthetics and environmental ethics.

はじめに

この作品集「Shoso 2020」は「Shoso 2016」以降の作品、２０１６年から２０２０年までの新保逍滄の作品を紹介するものです。この間の活動の焦点のひとつは環境芸術における生花の可能性の追求であったと言えそうです。環境破壊の元凶が資本主義でありながら、資本主義のシステム内でしか環境芸術は存在できないのでしょうか。純粋な環境芸術のひとつの形は「贈与」にも似た概念芸術ということになるのかもしれません。相手を決めず、報酬を求めず、できれば匿名で贈る行為。それは自然界の隅々にまで浸透する資本主義に対峙しうる最後の砦。あるいはそれを本物の精神文化と呼んでもいいのではないでしょうか。すると「贈与」は日々の生花の修練が深いところで意味するものとも似通ってくるようにも思えます。孤軍奮闘の折にふと浮かんだ想念です。

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

Sunday, 16 August 2020

Tuesday, 11 August 2020

Sculpture for Le Pine, East Kew, Melbourne

By 22:01


Magnolia Flower

Designed by Shoso Shimbo & Shoan Lo
Stainless Steel, 450 x 1200 x 450

The form of this sculpture was inspired by the magnolia flower. Flowers have held spiritual significance since ancient times. In some cultures, the magnolia flower signifies an enduring true love that lasts throughout time and space.

Based on Ikebana aesthetics, this sculpture shows the different stages of an opening flower. As the viewers walk around, the flower may slowly open before their eyes.

Floating Petals

Designed by Shoso Shimbo & Shoan Lo

The work represents flower petals floating on running water. This combination is one of the most highly admired poetic images in Japanese culture. It signifies both the transience of our existence and the eternal cycle of nature, our spirituality. The metal flowers come from Hiromitsu blacksmith in Izumo, Japan.

Web: Le Pine Funerals

葬儀会館への制作依頼には木蓮の花からイメージを膨らませた。古代より花は精神的な意味を持つものとされてきた。類人猿もまた死者に花を手向けたという。木蓮の花は時空を超えた永遠の愛を象徴するとする文化圏もある。非対称性を用いたことで、周りを歩くと彫刻の花が徐々に開いていく様子が感じられる。

流れの花びらは、花の刹那性と流れの永遠性（大自然あるいは精神性）の対比として日本文化史上、最も親しまれてきたイメージのひとつであろう。壁作品はこのモチーフを元にしている。桜の花弁は出雲の鍛冶職人に特別に制作していただいた。

愛する人をなくした人へ幾らかでも寄り添える作品が作れるだろうか。芸術家としてのキャリア中、最も厳しい、妥協が許されない状況での制作となった。クライアントから喜んで頂け、ひとまず安心したものです。

Saturday, 8 August 2020

Ikebana Dojo in August 2020

By 20:42




15 August 2020

Special Program - Using more than 5 materials
Apply by 11 August 

25 August 2020

Special Program with Mr Katayama
Apply by 11 August - New Deadline!
Mr Katayama agreed to facilitate 2 sessions on 25 August. A few more extra seats are available now.
Please apply soon. We changed application deadline because the participants need some time to prepare for this very special Dojo session. 

5 September 2020

Ikebana Aesthetics Program - Line 1
Please check our post about the sessions in September & October.  We focus on 4 ikebana elements in September & October. Beginners welcome.  


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

Saturday, 11 July 2020

Thursday, 18 June 2020

Thursday, 11 June 2020

Wednesday, 10 June 2020

Ikebana Calendar, June 2020

By 21:53



24 - 27 May 2020: Shoso presented a paper, “Nature in Ikebana: Ikebana before and after the war” online at the Asian Conference on Arts and Humanities. https://acah.iafor.org/acah2020/


June 2020: Sculpture Installation. Shoan Lo & Shoso Shimbo have been commissioned to design art works (stainless steel sculpture and wall piece ) for the newly built Le Pine Hall in Kew. Both works reflect ikebana aesthetics and philosophy.   


13 June 2020: Deadline to apply for Ikebana Dojo Session on 20 June 2020.  https://bit.ly/IkebanaDojo20June20, www.ikebanadojo.org 


19 June 2020: Shoso will conduct an Ikebana workshop using Zoom for the students of Shelford Girls Grammar School.


4pm, 20 June 2020: Ikebana Dojo. Zoom online Ikebana lesson based on the new curriculum.

https://bit.ly/dojoikebana, www.ikebanadojo.org


24 - 30 June 2020: Post your work to win the Ikebana Gallery Award 2020. https://bit.ly/IkebanaAward20


27 June 2020: Shoso will give a lecture using Zoom for the students of Kyoto University of the Arts. 


27 June 2020: Deadline to apply for Ikebana Dojo Session on 4 July 2020.   


4pm, 4 July 2020: Ikebana Dojo with Associate Professor Dr Inoue (Kyoto University of the Arts). 

https://bit.ly/dojoikebana


14 July 2020: Term 2 starts. Classes will be held at 60 Martin St, Brighton. All students including old and new students, please apply using a form so that we can have digital records of all the students. https://form.jotform.com/200651984101852  


12 September 2020: Shoan & Shoso will present Ikebana Dinner Show, Quaff Restaurant, Toorak. https://waikebana.blogspot.com/p/program.html   

 

19 & 20 September 2020: Wa Melbourne Ikebana Festival. https://waikebana.blogspot.com/

 

20 September 2020: Ikebana Performance with Paul Grabowsky at Melbourne Recital Centre. https://www.shoso.com.au/2019/10/ikebana-performance-with-paul-grabowsky.html

 

https://www.shoso.com.au 

Tuesday, 26 May 2020

Monday, 25 May 2020

Zoom Ikebana Dojo Update

By 11:30

Join an ikebana learning community. Meet ikebana friends from all over the world. 

 Next sessions:
Saturday 6 June 2020, 4:00pm - 4:40pm, Application Deadline: 30 May 2020
Saturday 20 June 2020, 4:00pm - 4:40pm, Application Deadline: 13 June 2020
Melbourne Australia time

Monday, 11 May 2020

Zoom Ikebana Dojo

By 21:37

Join an online learning community using Zoom. This project is to support your ikebana study, in particular, if you are studying alone. This is ideal for many people who are working in isolation. 

When: Lesson 1, 4:00pm - 4:40pm, Saturday 23 May 2020, Melbourne Australia time

Who can join?: Anyone, regardless ikebana school, stage of learning (except beginners) or country of residence.

How much?: Aus $10 (special Introductory offer, non-refundable). Pay by credit card or Paypal. 

 Details: https://bit.ly/dojoikebana
日本語案内：https://bit.ly/dojoikebana

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

Tuesday, 5 May 2020

70 Ikebana Essays by Shoso

By 21:48

Shoso Shimbo has published 70 essays on ikebana in both English & Japanese for Dengon Net, a monthly Japanese community newspaper in Melbourne. Shoso has never been late for the deadlines for 7 years. Click "On Ikebana" in Top Hits section in his website to read all of them. 
https://www.shoso.com.au/search/label/On%20Ikebana

If you want to read more of his writings, go to his Publication.
https://www.shoso.com.au/p/publication.html

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

Friday, 24 April 2020

Shoso's talk will be online

By 21:15

24 - 27 May 2020: Dr Shoso Shimbo will present a paper, “Nature in Ikebana: Beyond sustainability” online at the Asian Conference on Arts and Humanities. https://acah.iafor.org/acah2020/

Abstract

Western culture, in particular the Modernism Art Movement has had a significant influence on ikebana since the Meiji period. To discern an aspect of cultural transformation in Japan this study focus on the works by several ikebana artists and theorists in 19th and 20th centuries who contributed to develop radical free style ikebana with the influence of Modernism.

There is an argument that under the influence of Modernism, there was a shift in the view of what ikebana symbolically represents from universal structural orders to life energy. However, both of these views were implicated in the classic ikebana text, Senno Kuden (1542), where the author discussed his approach in terms of creating ikebana for a deeper appreciation of nature. This concept of ikebana as a representation of life energy did not begin with the reformers, it has been around since the early stages of development in ikebana and deserves more attention.

This study suggests that, after encountering Modernism, it became necessary for ikebana artists and theorists to reconsider the defining features of ikebana in the light of the differences in the perception of nature in the West and in Japan. Rather than accepting Modernism as a whole, they selectively adopted some elements of it to develop free style ikebana that embodies reemergence of the original approach to nature in ikebana.

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

Wednesday, 22 April 2020

Ikebana Events Calendar

By 21:04

There may be some changes due to the current health concern. 

14 April 2020: Zoom online Ikebana lesson was very successful. Thank you all participants. 

24 - 27 May 2020: Shoso will present a paper, "Nature in Ikebana: Beyond sustainability" online at the Asian Conference on Arts and Humanities. https://acah.iafor.org/acah2020/

June 2020: Sculpture Installation - Shoan Lo & Shoso Shimbo have been commissioned to design art works (stainless steel sculpture and wall piece ) for the newly built Le Pine Hall in Kew. Both works reflect ikebana aesthetics and philosophy.   

12 August 2020: Japanese Aesthetics (From Ikebana to contemporary art), RMIT Short Courses. http://bit.ly/rmit-ikebana

12 September 2020: Shoan & Shoso will present Ikebana Dinner Show, Quaff Restaurant, Toorak. https://waikebana.blogspot.com/p/program.html   

19 & 20 September 2020: Wa Melbourne Ikebana Festival. https://waikebana.blogspot.com/

20 September 2020: Ikebana Performance with Paul Grabowsky at Melbourne Recital Centre. https://www.shoso.com.au/2019/10/ikebana-performance-with-paul-grabowsky.html

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

Tuesday, 21 April 2020

Looking for Ikebana class near you?

By 15:56

 Looking for Ikebana class near you?

Is Murrumbeena too far for you? Some of Shoso’s students have been qualified to teach and are running their own classes. 

Balwyn North: Shoan Lo - http://www.shoanlo.net/workshopsclasses.html
Mulgrave: Akemi Suzuki - https://ikebanaakemi.wixsite.com/mysite
Mornington Peninsula: Shoto Duke -@shoto.ikebana, or email  eclipse@ikebana.net.au 

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

Where can I see Shoso’s works in Melbourne?

By 15:42


Where can I see Shoso’s works in Melbourne?

a. Hanabishi Japanese restaurant
187 King St, Melbourne
hanabishi.com.au

b. Parkside plastic surgery 
1/168 Gipps St, East Melbourne

c. Saint Dreux
Level 2, St. Collins Lane, 260 Collins St, Melbourne 

d. Mondopiero
28 Brunswick St, Fitzroy 
http://www.mondopiero.com.au
Floating bamboos and a couple of ikebana sculptures are usually on display.

e. Koko Japanese Restaurant, Crown, Southbank    
https://www.crownmelbourne.com.au/restaurants/premium/koko/info-booking
Shoso’s flowers will be on display from Christmas day to the New Year day.   

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

Search