As the snow continues to melt in Ottawa, the Canadian Museum of Nature is getting ready to welcome spring with its annual ikebana exhibition.
Ikebana, which translates as “living flowers,” is the ancient Japanese art of floral design that dates back to the sixth century. In this creative process, plant forms are deconstructed and natural elements such as flowers, leaves, bark, stone and twigs are arranged into living artworks.
Over the course of four days, the museum will play host to an array of ikebana designs based on the theme of “infusion”. The display will contain between 45 and 50 works that have each been handcrafted by members of Ikebana International’s Ottawa chapter.
Carol Campbell, the Centretown museum’s director of exhibits, says the timing of this year’s show correlates fittingly with the changing of the seasons.
“Ikebana is a breath of fresh air, and provides a blast of colour and artistry which is particularly welcome after a long winter,” she says. “The exhibition feels like a much-welcomed spring day when colour first pops up.”
Anne Breau, a long–time member of Ikebana International’s Ottawa chapter, says that each year the exhibition attracts a variety of visitors.
“We get people visiting who are serious about the art form, and some others who just come in for a quiet time. Some are avid gardeners, and are excited to see all of the live materials and fresh plants,” she says. “We also occasionally use tropical plants, so it’s a chance to see various things that you don’t see that often.”
There is a methodology behind each work of ikebana that includes planning, sketching, and constructing.
“Once you get the theme, you have to decide what kind of materials you’re going to use and what your interpretation is. Then you have to make a few drawings,” Breau says. “Once you’ve done that, there’s the physical ‘putting up’ of the arrangement, which can take up to a few days for a very large arrangement.”
Breau hopes that visitors to the exhibition will engage emotionally with each work of ikebana, and leave the museum feeling inspired by what they’ve seen.
“We’re hoping that people will be touched by the beauty of the arrangements, and we invite people to develop their own interpretation of each,” she says.
Breau says that viewing ikebana should be a relaxing and calming experience, almost akin to meditation.
“What I wish for every visitor is to have a quiet moment with no interference or noise,” she says. “Just sheer delight at having a quiet moment with something that hopefully they find beautiful.”
The exhibition runs for four days, April 16-19, at the Canadian Museum of Nature.