Silk Flowers in the Art of Ikebana
Silk Flowers go Minimalist

Ikebana is an ancient form of flower arranging that boasts minimal components, and the flawless arranging of those components. It utilizes natural materials such as leaves, branches, moss, grass, fruit, and flowers to create asymmetrical, but harmonious, creations. Void, or open space, is an important component of Ikebana, making its scarce elements even more striking than they would be if swallowed by a voluminous arrangement.

Ikebana celebrates nature, but does it in a medium that is art. It uses smooth lines, the impersonation of shapes, and hidden meanings to meld man’s world with nature. It doesn’t simply take example from nature, but is meant to remind us of the vastness of nature, no matter what setting plays host to its form.


Ikebana History

Ikebana is an art that dates to more than 600 years ago. It came to Japan with Buddhism, and the Japanese added the containers beneath the floral offerings to Buddha. It was originally practiced primarily by the priests that made the offerings, but by the 15th century, was considered an art form to be practiced by anyone, regardless of societal rank.


Ikebana Principles

In the beginning, one of the stipulations of the art was that one large vertical stem and two smaller ones must be present, to symbolize heaven, earth, and human. Today, one must trust his or her eye more than established rules. However, some standards are followed. For instance, no tropicals or aquatic plants are used. Only seasonal materials find their way into an Ikebana arrangement.

When using baskets or other containers, lighter colors are used for warmer seasons, while dark colors are employed during winter months. When glass containers are used, balance between water space, air space in the container, and air space above the container are all considered when assessing harmony.

When designing an Ikebana creation, some of the following media are often considered, thanks to their positive messages:

o Pine
o Chrysanthemum
o Iris
o Peony
o Daffodil
o Peach Blossom
o Nandina
o Bamboo & Bamboo Grass
o Camellia
o Bittersweet
o Willow
o Winterberry
o Orange
o Plum
o Apricot


Silk Flowers’ Role in Ikebana Design

Ikebana is considered such a fine art that there are schools established that teach nothing else. If it appeals to your interior design style, an internet search will provide plenty of ideas. If you can’t help but take it to the next level, then an Ikebana design class is for you.

No matter how you approach the art, it’s only fair to state the obvious advantages of using silk flowers. They’re timeless and tasteful; flawless and forever. If a design doesn’t appeal to you, you can simply rework it without detriment to the synthetic materials. If a design is one that you can’t live without, you know that you won’t have to…because silk flowers and plants will not fade away.

by Leigh LaCava - May, 2009

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Source: http://www.freshsilkflowers.com