The Bangalore Chapter Of The Ohara School of Ikebana celebrated its 29th anniversary last week. It organised an Ikebana exhibition, called Chiguru (New beginning) and an Ikebana demonstration by Ohryu Rekha Reddy from Hyderabad. The event was held at the Ganjam Mantapa, Bull Temple Road.
The venue was filled with women of all ages who were mesmerised by Rekha and her handiwork. Rekha takes a pine branch in her hands, nips it in a few places and pins it to the pin mould. Then she adds in a few tiger lilies and finally puts in a huge red leaf “for that light contrast”. The audience applauds.
She uses bamboo, cardboard boxes and exotic vases to show off her ikebana skills. And in between, gives out a few tips. “If your bamboo flower and branch is dried up, soak it in vinegar for a few hours and watch it come to life,” she says as her hands continue to deftly work at creating various styles of Ikebana arrangements.
To add in that special Sankranti touch she finishes off her demonstration using sugar cane and sunflowers with marigold. And finally she adds a dried twig to it, “Nature is beautiful even with dried petals. One must only know how to use everything artistically.”
Shyamala Ganesh, the founder of the Bangalore Chapter, started the school in 1983. She says, “The number of students has grown ever since. In the present day, when people have no time for themselves or nature, Ikebana offers them a chance to sit in a place, surrounded by flowers and arrange them. Most find it a stress buster as it takes them back to nature.”
Rekha then explains how she took to the art of Ikebana. “I was inspired by my mother, who went to Japan and fell in love with it. I grew up watching her do Ikebana and I believe it was natural for me to take to this art.”
She adds that she was fascinated with this as she “saw nature around me.”
Is it only women who take to Ikebana? “Originally, it was practised by men. Buddhist monks started this art. And in Japan too all the masters are men. But, I think now most women take to it as men must be busy earning their livelihoods,” chuckles Rekha.
How expensive is it to practise Ikebana? “You can make it as expensive as you want to. You can work with farm or dry material around you or go in for exotic flowers. You can use Kanakamara, jasmine and bamboo, wooden boxes or exotic ceramics. Basically, use material locally available and inculcate it into your way of living and your culture. It can be done by anyone in any style as Ikebana is the language of nature.”
