OUR PHILOSOPHY
IKEBANA projects emphasize a modern vision of Ikebana 生け花 (Japanese art of flower arrangement) through a series of curated art collaborations, events, workshops and retreats. Echoing the words of the renowned Ikebana artist Sofu Teshigahara “Ikebana is not so much a question of flowers as of people”, we aim to connect Japanese ikebana artists with the international creative community and to build bridges between the past and the present, Japan and the rest of the world.
ABOUT US
The founders of IKEBANA projects have lived in Japan for over a decade altogether and accumulated a vast experience working in the fields of art, fashion, luxury travel and food. Their immediate love and passion for Ikebana led them to be enthusiastic practitioners under the guidance of Japanese teachers. They now want to share this passion and their precious connections with Ikebana masters, artists and craftsmen to highlight this traditional art form in a contemporary way.
Laura MONTIGIANI
With a vast experience working in luxury brand marketing and travel, Laura has always been passionate about Japan and its culture. Upon moving to Tokyo she co-founded ANABA, a travel service helping to uncover the country’s hidden gems through bespoke itineraries and one-of-a-kind experiences. Laura has been practicing Ikebana for the past few years, not only out of love for flowers, but also as a form of meditation and self-expression. Ikebana’s strong cultural connection to Japan and its bold visual aesthetics based on the concept of MA 間, an invisible negative space, fascinate Laura and motivate her to share it through collaborations with artists, craftsmen and even Zen monks.
Elisabeth SAYN-WITTGENSTEIN
Having started her career in events business in Germany, Elisabeth’s love story with ancient craftsmanship started over 10 years ago in Belgium where she has been working with one of the last truly known artisan chocolatiers for over six years. While living in Japan, Elisabeth embraced local cultural traditions and immersed herself in the world of Ikebana and ceramics. With her Ikebana installations she participated in several exhibitions in Tokyo, Japan. She is an advocate for contemporary craftsmanship rooted in history and traditions and through her practice aspires to find new ways to introduce the art of Ikebana to various contemporary audiences and engage them in its reiterations.
Julia TARASYUK
Book author, writer and art specialist with a focus on Japanese contemporary art Julia shares over a decade of experience collaborating with museums, galleries, publishing houses and independent art projects around the world. For the past six years, Julia has lived and worked in Tokyo where she has been focusing on introducing Japanese artists to an international audience and providing an insight into the local art scene. With her recent projects and publications she has been actively supporting the exchange between the Japanese and international art communities. Julia has been an Ikebana practitioner for the past few years and is particularly interested in its intersections with modern and contemporary art.