Ikebana Unbound: A Modern Approach to the Ancient Japanese Art of Flower Arranging

"Ikebana is a Japanese art form that began in the fifteenth century, but a new generation of florists around the world have begun embracing its natural, minimalist ethos and reimagining it for the modern age. Studio Mondine is at the forefront of this movement; with their restrained approach, a few foraged branches and a single flower stem can feel as dramatic and elevated as a whole bouquet of pricey blooms. The book is organized around four central tenets of ikebana: naturalness, movement, balance, andsimplicity. Every chapter includes an essay explaining the key tenet followed by a series of representative seasonal arrangements. For each one, Luu and Matsuba discuss the design's connection to ikebana philosophy and then offer readers step-by-step instructions for re-creating the arrangement, with photos showing the mechanics of building the piece (foliage manipulation, working with floral frogs, etc.). In the Simplicity chapter, two bittersweet vines and single stem of amaryllis make for a dramatic fall statement. In Naturalness, a springtime "pondscape" takes shape, brought to life with a collection of muscari blooms, butterfly ranunculus, and leggy alliums. And in the chapter on Movement, palm bark is bent to resemble a strong current of wind, blowing through a valley of coreopsis. With hundreds of beautiful photographs and the authors' expert intel, Ikebana Unbound is at once a primer on contemporary ikebana design and an inspiration for readers to create their own exceptional arrangements"--
This modern guide to the Japanese art form of flower arranging that began in the fifteenth century is both a primer on contemporary ikebana design and an inspiration for readers to create their own exceptional floral arrangements. 20,000 first printing. Illustrations.
"A modern take on a centuries-old art that&;s breathtakingly simple.&;&;Booklist, starred review At its heart, the Japanese art of ikebana is about celebrating an intimate connection with nature. To practice ikebana is to find inspiration in the seasons, favor unassuming blooms and branches, seek balance and simplicity, and remain fully present in the moment. It is a beautiful, pure antidote to our age of distraction and excess. Honoring the lineage of ikebana while making the art their own, Amanda Luu and Ivanka Matsuba of Studio Mondine show us new ways to tell stories with flowers. They offer step-by-step instructions for dozens of stunning, seasonal arrangements, while in the process introducing readers to the themes and stylistic signatures of the art. In Studio Mondine&;s hands, this centuries-old practice feels undeniably fresh&;and readers are given the gift of learning to create unique, meaningful, and authentic arrangements.
A modern guide to ikebana flower arranging, exploring the key themes of ikebana philosophy through 32 stunning arrangements.