Ikebana at Home: Featuring Sogetsu School

The Sogetsu School of Ikebana was started in 1927 by the founder Sofu Teshigahara who questioned the traditions of ikebana and preferred to respect the freedom of individual expressions. “Anytime, anywhere, by anyone,” — and with any materials — is the creed of the Sogetsu School.

Today, under the 4th Iemoto Akane Teshigahara, the Sogetsu Ikebana is popular around the world as a school of Ikebana that draws out the freedom of expression in each individual, always new, always beautiful, and never constrained by preconceptions.

Sogetsu Los Angeles presents our Summer 2021 Katen online in three groups marking the transformation of the season from June through September. Our members identified three aspects that the summer season conjures for them.

Early summer (June/July) is marked by FRESH green leaves and flowers.

The middle of summer (August) is associated with PURE water that provides us respite from summer heat.

Late summer (September) brings the last of the BRIGHT colors of the closing season. Cacti, succulents, summer grasses and vivid hues figure through the season.

The thematic shifts are at times obvious but often blurred, leaving the artist and viewer to shape their own interpretation. A final installment comes in September.