Ikebana - Thu 3 July

Join us for a very special workshop introducing the Japanese art of ikebana — a refined flower arrangement practice with a rich, centuries-old history. More than just arranging flowers, ikebana is a meditative art form that emphasizes harmony, balance, and presence. In this workshop, Masako Higashi will demonstrate her own ikebana creations and guide you through the process of making your own arrangements.

Unlike traditional ikebana that often uses a kenzan (a spiky flower frog to hold stems in place), this workshop will focus on techniques that do not require a kenzan, making it easy for you to create beautiful ikebana at home with simple materials.

By the end of the session, you will have created and brought home two small, complete ikebana arrangements. We will also have a photo session to capture your work and the experience.

This workshop offers both an introduction to the history and philosophy of ikebana and practical skills to continue exploring this elegant art form on your own.

Masako Higashi has practiced ikebana for over 50 years and holds a 2nd-degree (Nikyu Shihan) certification in the Sogetsu school of ikebana. To complement her practice, she also creates her own vases and ceramic objects. Deeply committed to promoting understanding of Japanese culture in the Netherlands, she offers lessons not only in ikebana but also in the Japanese language.

Her dedication and expertise have been recognized in various ways — she was featured on the KRO television program Zin in Morgen and has given a workshop at the Gerrit Rietveld Academie in Amsterdam.