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"ARITA×SOGETSU": Research Exhibition by Sogetsu School ikebana artists and Arita ware artisans
Ikebana installations created by Arita ware artisans and Sogetsu School ikebana artists
From December 14 to 18, 2021, the event “ARITA×SOGETSU Research Exhibition” was held at Sogetsu Kaikan in Akasaka, Tokyo, organized by the Ceramic Research Center of Saga University. The exhibition featured a total of 13 installations of ikebana, the Japanese art of flower arrangement, created by artists of the Sogetsu School of Ikebana. The flower vessels were developed by ARITA PLUS Co., Ltd., a joint venture among several Arita ware kilns, in collaboration with Sogetsu School ikebana artists. On December 15th, a gallery talk was held by Shinji Terauchi, the head of Riso Porcelain and the president of ARITA PLUS, and attended by many people including ikebana artists and people in the ceramic industry.
A gallery talk led by Shinji Terauchi
［Front］Vessel designed by Reibi Goto, made by Shinji Terauchi / Ikebana arranged by Kousui Yanagisawa
［Back］Vessel designed by Karyo Naito, made by Shinji Terauchi / Ikebana arranged by Akemi Teshigahara
As the market for commercial tableware, the traditional mainstay of Arita ware, shrinks, this research project began with the aim of developing a market in a new field. “The relationship with the vessel makes the plant come alive. With this as a starting point, I hope that there will be more opportunities for porcelain as well as ceramics to be used as vessels for flower arrangement,” said Akane Teshigahara, Iemoto (headmaster) of the Sogetsu School.
This project is the germ of a new art form that will illuminate the future of the ceramics industry, as both porcelain and ikebana artists explore new possibilities and inspire each other, and in the process open up new markets for Arita as a whole.
Vessel designed by Karyo Naito, made by Hiroyuki Tokunaga / Ikebana arranged by Ousen Endo
