Ikebana ‘Blossoms of Hope’ Exhibition and special demonstration

Friday, 25 April 2014 01:27 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The Sri Lankan Chapter of Ikebana International will be holding their always popular Annual Exhibition this weekend 26 and 27 April from 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. at the Monara Restaurant, Sri Lanka Institute of Tourism and Hotel Management, 78 Galle Rd., Col-3. Ikebana is the traditional Japanese art of flower arrangement, dating back to the 15th century. In early times, the practice of this art was associated with the Japanese tea ceremony and Buddhism and was originally restricted to men only. Ikebana experienced a revival in the late 19th century and its popularity gradually spread beyond Japan’s borders. Ikebana International with its headquarters in Tokyo is the umbrella organisation for the many different schools of Ikebana that exist and has done much to promote the art of Ikebana worldwide. Founded in 1957, its motto ‘Friendship through flowers’ expresses the founding spirit of this organisation which is run solely by volunteers. The Sri Lankan Chapter of Ikebana International was founded in 2009 and has over thirty members, including professionals in the field of floral art as well as enthusiasts and students of Ikebana. As a special feature of this year’s exhibition, and back by popular demand, Christopher Lim, the Singaporean ‘godfather’ of the Sri Lankan Chapter will be giving a free public demonstration during which he will make several arrangements while explaining the principles of Ikebana. Lim is a widely respected figure in the world of Ikebana. With over 30 years of experience, he is a much sought after demonstrator and instructor. He has given demonstrations and workshops in several countries including Japan, Singapore, India, Pakistan and Malaysia. This will be his fifth visit to Sri Lanka. The demonstration is free with the purchase of a ticket and will be held on 26 Saturday at 4:30 p.m. at the Monara Restaurant at the Sri Lankan Institute of Tourism and Hotel Management. For details contact Gamini Sarath Godakanda at 0777 735556.