Step by step guide by The Ikebana Project
This week Barry Marré @the_ikebana_project shares a step by step guide for creating an Upright Moribana showcased in a NUDE Opti Centrepiece. Learn more about our collaboration with Barry and about the art form Ikebana here.
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Moribana (盛り花, 盛花) is one of the expressions of the art of Japanese flower arranging, Ikebana. Directly translated, the word ‘Moribana’ means ‘piled up flowers.’ Moribana arrangements always use three stems, flowers, or branches which can vary in specific lengths, heights and set with various angles.
Fundamental to the artform, a kenzan, also called a spiky frog, is a special device used for fixing the flowers in the chosen container. All Ikebana starts with a kenzan being placed in the bowl so that the water and branches form into one cohesive presentation. This small and simple device provides an infinite amount of ways to arrange flowers, stems, and branches.
A step by step guide for creating an Upright Moribana
NUDE product: NUDE Opti Centrepiece
Flowers used: Ranoncules Scabiosa and Atlantis scoop
Method:
- Remove all the foliage from the branches so that the flower and shape can be better seen
- Take your first flower and trim to (the diameter of your vase x the height of the vase) x 1.5. Here, that equals (30.5cm x 9.8cm) x 1.5 = 44.8cm
- Place your first flower in the central front kenzan at an angle of 10 degrees to the left, and slightly leaning forward - this way, the flower says ‘hello!’
- Trim the second flower to ⅔ of the length of your first flower. Then place it at the very back left of the kenzan, leaning 40 degrees to the left
- Trim the third flower to ⅓ of the length of your first flower. Feel free to play with different flower lengths for the most cohesive arrangement and a balance that feels right to you. Place in the kenzan at the front right, at a 75 degree angle so that the flower leans at a low angle close to the bottom of your bowl
- Cut various flowers short and use them to cover the kenzan. Make sure to trim to a variety of lengths to create a more dynamic arrangement. I like to use types of flowers which compliment each other in the group
- Place the kenzan in the front left of the bowl (pictured here displayed in a NUDE Opti Centrepiece)
NUDE Opti Centerpiece in smoked green
Creator Barry Marré
Instagram: @the_ikebana_project
