Structures in Sogetsu Ikebana

Pinecones wired together make a bold sculptural statement.

After, participating in a Sogetsu ikebana workshop on structure building, I've become a little obsessed. Everywhere I look, I now see the potential for one. They can be crafted of almost anything from plant material like equisetum to cardboard toilet paper rolls. I once saw one composed of bicycle fenders!

Amazing what a glue gun, a little paint and a pile of toilet tissue rolls can become! (Courtesy Ikebana.be).

Now the word "structure" might sound technical and involved (yes, sometimes it requires wire, drills, and a suspicious amount of florist’s tape). I’ll admit, at first I was intimidated. Arts and crafts was never my strong suit. But, over time, besides greenery and flowers, I began to see structures in my ikebana dreams. Torn mesh, abandoned chicken wire, bubble wrap, rusty pipe -- to me, they'll never look the same.

The purpose of a structure is threefold. It might

• Support plant materials by working as scaffolding.

• Be a sculptural feature, as important as greenery.

• Influence space and scale, allowing arrangements to grow tall, wide, or airy in ways they never could in a simple vase.

Sometimes the structure is minimal — just a branch fixed firmly into a vase. On its own, it looks stark and architectural. But add flowers and it becomes a sturdy and supportive framework.

Structure as the invisible bones supporting a rambunctious ikebana arrangement.

Chicken wire playfully mimics the triangle shape of a vase.

Other times it can be dramatic and unexpected. As you probably know, ikebana has many schools and styles. Some lean toward tradition and precision. Others, like Sogetsu, invite freedom, creativity, and a touch of adventure. Founded in 1927 by Sofu Teshigahara, Sogetsu broke away from the idea that ikebana must be tied to fixed principles or seasons. Instead, it embraces traditional tenets but encourages artists to use any materials, anywhere, anytime.

Wiring twigs together can create a miniature landscape.

Structures shape space. They create a dialogue between what is built and what blooms. Suddenly you’re not limited by the size of a container. You can make something taller than yourself, or something so airy it looks as if it’s floating.

In Sogetsu, structures remind us that beauty can be built, not just found.

A simple egg carton soaked in water overnight and sculpted into art. (Courtesy Ikebana.be).