This workshop introduces the traditional Japanese art of Ikebana. With a history of more than 580 years originating in Kyoto, Ikebana developed within imperial and samurai culture and continues to embody elegance, balance, and mindfulness. More than flower arrangement, Ikebana invites practitioners to observe nature closely and consider the relationship between line, form, and empty space. Participants will explore how structure, proportion, and creativity interact in this distinctive art form. The workshop will host 10 participants (currently fully booked). Up to five additional observers may attend due to room capacity.
Tomoko Sempo Yanagi (Kenny) is an Ikenobo Ikebana Professor with nearly forty years of study, practice, and teaching experience. She currently serves as President of the Ikenobo UK & Ireland Chapter and is a Royal Horticultural Society Flower Show medallist. Educated in Japan and the United Kingdom, she has lived in the UK since 1998 and has worked extensively to introduce Japanese floral traditions to international audiences. She leads workshops, demonstrations, and large-scale installations across Europe, including Ireland, Iceland, Luxembourg, Lithuania, and Czechia. Through her teaching, she highlights the cultural philosophy of Ikebana while fostering creativity, cultural understanding, and cross-cultural dialogue.