New challenge - Rimpa Arrangement -

I challenged one of advanced styles of ikebana - Rimpa arrangement - for the first time.

Rimpa arrangement comes from Rimpa school of Japanese painting which flourished during the Edo Period (1603 - 1867). Ogata Korin and Tawaraya Sotatsu are the representative artists. Rimpa is said to influence European impressionist school and Japanese modern arts and designs, and it is seen in various formats, notably screens, fans and hanging scrolls, woodblock printed books, lacquerware, ceramics, and kimono textiles. Many Rimpa paintings were used on the sliding doors and walls (fusuma) of noble homes.

Rimpa arrangement in ikebana must feature picturesque beaty, like the beaty which you can see in kimono textiles. In most ikebana forms I must be conscious of space to make space forward and backward, but this form doesn't need it. Rimpa works spread in the flat would rather be good - like paintings. To make a work picturesque, the unique characteristics of flowers and plants are exaggerated or refined.



This is my Rimpa work by two flowers (cockscombs and dahlias) and a green (variegated solomon's seal).

This is my master's work.

This is gorgeous like a kimono design, isn't it?

In Rimpa arrangement, Japanese seasonal flowers are used as a general rule, but I think western flowers are suitable for this form. By using many kinds of flowers mixed with western and eastern and a stylish vase, Rimpa arrangement must be more gorgeous and cool.