Professor Kieu at Wa Opening

We are pleased to announce that Dr Tien Kieu, Member of the Victorian Parliament will be attending the opening ceremony of Wa: Melbourne Ikebana Festival. Other special guests include City of Yarra Councillor Daniel Nguyen, Wadaiko Rindo, and Trish Nicholls (Ikebana International).

https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/from-boat-person-to-victorian-mp-tien-kieu-s-incredible-journey-20190215-p50y2r.html?fbclid=IwAR0kT9a_CZHpCp52bjT5sz4oFhCDMT2JvXRsE6zJ7bOGtk_descuEk3_XR4

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Ikebana Conference at Wa: Ikebana Festival

International Society of Ikebana Studies, Regular Conference, September 2019 

Shoso Shimbo, PhD will talk about the rise of free style ikebana in 1920's as part of Wa: Melbourne Ikebana Festival.

When: 9 am, 1 September 2019

Where: Rosina Auditorium, Abbotsford Convent, Melbourne

Booking: https://www.trybooking.com/book/event?eid=534663&

Influence of the Western Modernism on Perception of Nature in Ikebana: A New Interpretation of Ikenobo Senno Kuden (1542) and Its Hidden Link to the Rise of Free Style in the Modern Japan

Western culture, in particular the Modernism Art Movement, has had an influence on Ikebana since the Meiji period (1868 - 1912). As such, Ikebana has undergone a cultural transformation that is closely related to a redefinition of Ikebana, incorporating a reconsideration of the attitude to nature in Japan. This study focuses on works by Suido Yamane (1893 - 1966), Mirei Shigemori (1896 -1975) and Hiroshi Teshigahara (1927 - 2001) who were particularly conscious of the influence of Western culture on Ikebana.

My talk today is a small part of my research on influence of the Western culture on Ikebana, and it focuses on Suido Yamane who proposed free style arrangements in the 1920’s for the first time in the history of Ikebana. I would like to focus on the relationship between Ikenobo Senno Kuden in the 16th century and emergence of free style Ikebana in the 1920’s.

There is an argument that, in modern Japan under the influence of Western culture, there was a shift in the view of what Ikebana symbolically represents – from universal structural orders to life energy. However, these external and internal approaches were both mentioned in the classic Ikebana text, Ikenobo Senno Kuden (1542). This concept of Ikebana as a representation of life energy did not begin with the reformers in 1920’s & 1930’s, it has been around since the early stage of development in Ikebana and deserves more attention.

This study suggests that with encountering Western culture, Ikebana artists and theorists became aware of the differences in the perception of nature in the West and in Japan. In their effort to incorporate Western attitudes to nature into Ikebana, they needed to reconsider the essence of Ikebana, and develop new theories on Ikebana. This study also suggests that those new theories are often based on Eastern philosophy.

http://www.shoso.com.au
https://www.facebook.com/ikebanaaustralia

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Where is Wa?

  

Where is Wa?
The Wa: Melbourne Ikebana Exhibition will be at the Rosina Auditorium of the Abbotsford Convent at Abbotsford.
There are many buildings onsite and here is a video to help you to find us on the day!

Wa: Ikebana Festival
31 August - 1 September 2019 (Sat- Sun)
There will be exhibition, artists talks, onstage ikebana demonstration and workshops for both adults and kids! https://waikebana.blogspot.com/p/program.html

And a lot more. We even have Day Scent and Matescent with us! Come and see and experience Ikebana in Spring time Melbourne!

https://waikebana.blogspot.com/

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Can I get discount? Workshop at Wa

Ikebana Workshops for Beginners
1-5pm, Saturday 31 August 2019 - Ichiyo School
10am-5pm, Sunday 1 September 2019 - Sogetsu School Shoso Shimbo Group
Duration: 50 min
Venue: Yellow Room, Rosina (Yellow Room is next to Rosina Auditorium)
Fee: $35 per person. Father's Day Special ($60 for 2) & Father's Day Family Discount ($100 for 4) - available Sunday only*.
Booking: http://bit.ly/IkebanaConvent

* Our discount tickets are to encourage a family outing on father's day. There have been many interpretations/misunderstandings about our discounts. Both discounts are for family members only, i.e. the two or four participants have to be the same family (father & daughter, father & son, or family of four).

Q: If I buy 2 tickets, do I get discount?
A: No. The two participants have to be the same family members.

Q: If I buy 1 ticket for Saturday, and 1 ticket for Sunday, do I get discount?
A: No. Discount is available only on Sunday.

Q: Saturday class and Sunday class are the same?
A: No. They are similar but different. Different Ikebana schools teach a basic style differently.

Q: Can mother & child get a discount on father's day?
A: Yes. Please also consider our "Ikebana for Kids" class.

Ikebana for Kids
1pm & 2pm, Sunday 1 September 2019
Duration: 45 min
Venue: Rosina Auditorium
Age: Year 1 - Year 6
Fee: $25
Booking: http://bit.ly/IkebanaConventKids

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Sold Out - Ikebana Demonstration

Ikebana Demonstration at Wa: Melbourne Ikebana Festival was sold out.
If you could not obtain a ticket online, you may watch the demo standing (no seat available on the day) for free of charge. First 200 visitors only. Please follow advice from our floor managing staff. Your safety is our first priority.

When: 12pm, Saturday 31 August 2019

Where: Rosina Auditorium, Abbotsford Convent, Melbourne 

Details: https://waikebana.blogspot.com/p/program.html  

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Wa on 3MBS Radio

Shoto Duke gave a funtastic interview about Wa Melbourne Ikebana Festival at 3MBS radio, one of Melbourne's most popular radio stations. http://bit.ly/3MBSikebana19
The interview starts at the 43min 14seconds.

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Please Help Us!

Links to our Wa: Melbourne Ikebana Festival’s website have been repeatedly blocked by Facebook as a result of anonymous false accusations.

However, it may be possible for true Ikebana lovers to unite and work together against this nasty behaviour. If you think that this kind of dirty behaviour does not belong in the Ikebana world, please help us promote our festival.

Please like and share our Facebook posts, send an email to your friends, pass out our flyers, and talk to your family or neighbours. https://www.facebook.com/wa.ikebana/

Please do everything you can to help promote our festival!

We would love to declare that Wa 2019 was miraculously successful not “despite online harassment” but “thanks to these cowardly attacks”. We would be really grateful to this person. Because of their mean-spirited harassment, we all united to make this festival a great success. Online harassment could not hurt us but only made us stronger.

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Melbourne Ikebana Festival on Media

1. Melbourne Ikebana Festival will be featured in Arts Weekly in 3MBS at 10am on Saturday 17 August 2019. 3MBS is one of Melbourne's most popular radio stations.  https://3mbs.org.au

2. Melbourne Ikebana Festival was listed in the events page in Dengon Net, August edition. Dengon Net is a major newspaper in the Japanese community in Melbourne.
http://www.dengonnet.net/melbourne/columns/articles/87936  

3. Only Melbourne: https://www.onlymelbourne.com.au/ikebana-festival#.XVUwzC17H3Q

4. Australia Japan Society: https://www.ajsvictoria.org.au/news/7571637

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Ikebana Workshop on Father's Day

How about an Ikebana workshop with your father on Father's Day?
Father's Day special ticket ($60 for 2) and family ticket ($100 for 4) are available.
http://bit.ly/IkebanaConvent
http://bit.ly/ikebanakids19

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Ikebana Workshop at Melbourne Ikebana Festival

Ikebana Workshops for Beginners
1-5pm, Saturday 31 August 2019 - Ichiyo School
10am-5pm, Sunday 1 September 2019 - Sogetsu School Shoso Shimbo Group
Duration: 50 min
Venue: Yellow Room, Rosina (Yellow Room is next to Rosina Auditorium)
Fee: $35 per person
Booking: http://bit.ly/IkebanaConvent

Ikebana for Kids
1pm & 2pm, Sunday 1 September 2019
Duration: 45 min
Venue: Rosina Auditorium
Age: Year 1 - Year 6
Fee: $25
Booking: http://bit.ly/IkebanaConventKids

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Wadaiko Rindo at Wa

Wadaiko Rindo is coming to Wa Melbourne Ikebana Festival! Free. About 10:45 am, Saturday 31 August, Rosina, Abbotsford Convent. Another international artists!
https://wadaikorindo.com

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Programs & Booking Updates

Event Details

Wa: Ikebana Exhibition (Free) 
Curator: Rachel Iampolski　
11am - 5pm, Saturday 31 August 2019
10am - 5pm, Sunday 1 September 2019
Rosina Auditorium, Abbotsford Convent, Melbourne
https://abbotsfordconvent.com.au/visit/visitor-information

Wa: Ikebana Exhibition Opening (Private Function)
10am - 11am, Saturday 31 August 2019
Invitation Only

Wa Ikebana Award - Application Closed
The winner of the Wa Ikebana Award 2019 will be announced during the opening ceremony.

Wadaiko Rindo Performance
About 10:45 am, Saturday 31 August 2019
Free
Enjoy a great performance by the most popular Japanese drumming group in Australia.
https://wadaikorindo.com/ 

Wa: Ikebana Exhibition Artists' Talk (Free)
11am - 12:00pm, Saturday 31 August 2019
Rosina Auditorium
MC: Takako Routledge
Admission Free
Booking: https://www.trybooking.com/BDQEZ
Please note:
1. The number of tickets for Artists Talk is very limited.
2. If you could not obtain a ticket online, you may be asked to wait for a while to form a new group. Please follow advice from our floor managing staff. Your safety is our first priority. 
3. If it is too crowded, however, please come back to Rosina after 1pm to enjoy our exhibition. Abbotsford Convent has several art galleries, beautiful garden, and nice cafes. 
4. If you have any question, please ask our friendly staff at the reception desk.      

Wa: Ikebana Demonstration - Over 85% tickets sold
12pm - 1:00pm, Saturday 31 August 2019
Rosina Auditorium
MC: Shoan Lo
Fee: $5
Booking: https://www.trybooking.com/BDQES
Six demonstrators will create Ikebana works in 6 min. each. We are pleased to announce that Ms Kagawa, Professor in Ichiyo School, from Tokyo will be one of the presenters. Other presenters include Sandra Marker (Sogetsu NSW), Shoan Lo, Shokai Ikebana, Akemi Suzuki & Aileen (Shoto) Duke. Many of our demonstrators are members of Wa Melbourne Ikebana Festival Committee. We appreciate their hard work for this festival. We are fortunate to have an anonymous sponsor for this demonstration.
Please note:
1. The number of tickets for Ikebana Demonstration is very limited. About 40 seats only.
2. If you could not obtain a ticket online, you may watch the demo standing (no seat available on the day). It is free to watch standing. Please follow advice from our floor managing staff. Your safety is our first priority. 
3. If it is too crowded, however, please come back to Rosina after 1pm to enjoy our exhibition & the works created by our demonstrators. Abbotsford Convent has several art galleries, beautiful garden, and nice cafes. 

Ikebana Workshops for Beginners
1-5pm, Saturday 31 August 2019 - Ichiyo School
10am-5pm, Sunday 1 September 2019 - Sogetsu School Shoso Shimbo Group
Duration: 50 min
Venue: Yellow Room, Rosina (Yellow Room is next to Rosina Auditorium)
Fee: $35 per person
Booking: http://bit.ly/IkebanaConvent 

Ikebana Conference - New Event!

Wa: Melbourne Ikebana Festival is pleased to host a regular conference of the International Society of Ikebana Studies（国際いけ花学会 ）.　
Shoso Shimbo will talk about "Influence of the Western Modernism on Perception of Nature in Ikebana: A New Interpretation of Ikenobo Senno Kuden (1542) and Its Hidden Link to the Rise of Free Style Ikebana in the Modern Japan"
9am - 10am, Sunday 1 September 2019
Fee: $10
Booking: https://www.trybooking.com/BEKXZ

Ikebana for Kids
1pm & 2pm, Sunday 1 September 2019
Duration: 45 min
Venue: Rosina Auditorium
Age: Year 1 - Year 6
Fee: $25
Booking: http://bit.ly/IkebanaConventKids

Ikebana Performance with live Music - Over 80% tickets Sold 
7pm - 8pm, Saturday 31 August 2019
Salon, Melbourne Recital Centre
Booking: http://bit.ly/IkebanaGrigoryan
Shoso Shimbo will create an Ikebana installation with live music by the internationally renowned Grigoryan Brothers.
Details: https://waikebana.blogspot.com/2019/03/ikebana-performance-at-wa.html

http://www.shoso.com.au
https://www.facebook.com/ikebanaaustralia

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