Floating Islands

Ceramic Ikebana Vessels

2018 Japan Information & Culture Center Fall Exhibition

2018 Exhibit Design || Exhibition panel designs (+ window decal, ink illustrations, postcard contest, & flyers) for the JICC, District Clay Center, and Ikebana International Chapter No. 1’s traveling exhibition, “Floating Islands.” An ikebana postcard drawing contest was held to promote this exhibition and encourage the audience to learn about the different schools of ikebana. The postcards feature ink renditions of four of the ikebana vessels on display at the exhibition.

Clients / Presented by || Japan Information & Culture Center, Embassy of Japan, District Clay Center, & Ikebana International Washington D.C., Chapter No. 1, & Marymount University (Sponsor)

Primary Role || Designer, Illustrator, & Art Direction
Secondary Role || Writer & Publicist

Explore how a beloved Japanese tradition is being reinterpreted and inherited in the United States at the JICC’s “Floating Islands: Ceramic Ikebana Vessels” exhibition, presented together with the District Clay Center and Ikebana International, Washington, D.C., Chapter No.1, and sponsored by Marymount University.
Curated by renowned ceramist Akira Satake, this exhibition features ceramic ikebana vessels created by some of the most talented potters working within the U.S. today, several of which have lived and studied in pottery towns in Japan such as Bizen, Mashiko, and Shigaraki, where they were able to hone their art and bring back methods of making and firing to the United States. All featured potters, including special guest artist, Japanese Master Potter Ken Matsuzaki, share an innate sense of the importance of ma, or “negative space,” a concept integral to Japanese aesthetics. Exhibition panels will allow visitors to gain insight into the various traditional techniques of ceramics native to Japan, as well as the principles standard to the schools of Ikebana. Artist statements on display will also invite viewers to explore the unique ways each ceramic artist took inspiration from traditional Japanese aesthetics and evolved it to a personal style. Additionally, three Ikebana Artists from Ikebana International Washington D.C. Chapter No.1 will exhibit arrangements inspired by and featuring three of the exhibited vessels.

exhibition panels

about the title

Each ikebana arrangement is an island – a complete and perfect world unto itself that is floating on its ceramic vessel. This idea comes from Ikebana’s objective to distill the outside world, particularly the natural landscape, down to a simple, but perfectly balanced piece of art that can be contemplated indoors. The title is also reminiscent of the “floating world” of Ukiyo-e.