Ikebana is a disciplined Japanese floral art with an emphasis on balance, harmony, and form. These beautiful, minimalistic flower arrangements made an impression on Dale Chihuly during a number of his visits to Japan in the 1980s. Feeling as if he had pushed the scale of his earlier
Venetianseries as far as possible, Chihuly began experimenting with deeper and broader vessels, stripping them bare of embellishments and adding stems with flowers and leaves. The result was Chihuly’s
Ikebanaseries, echoing the essential aesthetics of traditional ikebana while marked by the artist’s revolutionary use of color, distinctive lines, and the strength of pure form.
The 2012 Portland Press Studio Edition
Scarlet Leaf Ikebanais a two-piece composition that illustrates the simple elegance of this Chihuly series. Patches of silver and gold and opaline spots adorn the amber vessel, establishing an elemental ground for a graceful, coiling stemmed leaf. The scarlet leaf, ribbed and touched with discreet streaks of gold, emerges from the vase with a seducing curved equilibrium and rests on a perfectly balanced point. The combination is one of serene rapport.
The
Scarlet Leaf Ikebana, signed by the artist and measuring approximately eleven inches high, is accompanied by a custom-designed Plexiglas display case and a copy of
Chihuly Gardens & Glass. The 192-page, full color publication includes beautifully photographed images of Chihuly’s exhibition at Garfield Park Conservatory and other outdoor installations.
The 2012 Studio Edition
Scarlet Leaf Ikebanaexemplifies a timeless grace and sophistication.