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It was my dream to make an ikebana performance. Why? Because, unlike ikebana demonstrations, where audience just observes, in ikebana performance people actually participate in creating a big ikebana installation. They feel happy and inspired because of their contribution. The final creation is not only very beautiful, but also gives sense of mutual creativity and sharing. The first ikebana performance in Bulgaria I did last year in a modern art space location in Sofia. I was so impressed when Tsaritsa (Queen) Margarita, the wife of Tsar (King) Simeon II of Bulgaria came to my event, and she shared with me that she was so happy to be part of it. In the past she lived in Japan where she practiced ikebana for a while. There were about forty people at the performance, and they all liked it so much, and were so happy and pleased. There was so much positive energy and excitement, that I decided to do it again, and again, and again.

I wanted the next venue for this empowering experience to be Plovdiv, the second largest city in Bulgaria after Sofia, a beautiful ancient city full of history and artistic atmosphere, a former European Capital of Culture.

That is why I designed the Ikebana Performance and exhibition project in Plovdiv for 2024.

When I did the Tender flowers and hard stone project two years ago in the Eastern sector of the Roman Stadium in Plovdiv, where we exhibited beautiful ikebana compositions in Bizen pottery in the ancient stony remains of Philippopolis, the predecessor of today’s Plovdiv, I loved the venue. It has the rough looks of big stone pieces, used as seats for the ancient stadium, brick walls and metal staircases and walks, which present a very suitable background to contrast the tender beauty of the flowers. That was the reason I decided to choose that venue again for Ikebana Performance and exhibition project this year.

The exhibition consisted of some paintings and reliefs in Sogetsu ikebana style, which I began to create last year. They shined against the rough brick walls they were exhibited on. With the help of some of my students, we created ikebana arrangements to blend with and complement the paintings, which is a trend in Sogetsu ikebana. We also created some large ikebana arrangements with palm leaves, wooden log and bamboo. I believe that we presented all aspects of ikebana in a most harmonious way.

On the opening of the Ikebana Performance and exhibition event we made the ikebana performance.

A lot of people came, some of them also brought their kids with them. That was a new thing for me, children participating in the performance. I have done ikebana workshops for kids before, and it always amazes me how spontaneous and creative children are, and how much they like ikebana.

All participants enjoyed the performance very much, asking a lot of questions like “What is the name of this flower?” or “Why should I put this flower here and not there?”, and enjoying their contribution to the whole installation, which consisted of four wooden balls of intertwined branches. But the most passionate were kids. They wanted to insert flowers in the installation again and again, expressing pure joy.

Again, like in Sofia before, I witnessed the happiness of people when they became a part of the ikebana performance. And their feedback filled me with joy.

On Sunday, October 27, I did an ikebana workshop in the hall next to the exhibition. It was really inspiring for the participants to create their first ikebana in this artistic atmosphere. Some of the kids that participated in the performance also came to my workshop. We made some beautiful moribana compositions. I was overwhelmed by the positive emotions we all had together.

It was a real pleasure for me and I am so grateful that I have the opportunity to create this sustainable art, inspired by nature.

I would like to thank EU-Japan Fest Japan Committee for making this project possible. Also I would like to thank The Ancient Plovdiv Municipal Institute, for their great support, Sumura Eikou sensei for her guidance and for always being there for me, my passionate ikebana students in Plovdiv and Sofia.

I intend to continue to create more of this art and to present it in Sofia and other cities of Bulgaria.

The growing number of my students from Plovdiv and their devotion to ikebana urges me to continue to present the beauty of this wonderful art in the City of the Seven Hills (that’s how Plovdiv is also known) with exhibitions, performances and workshops, and to spread ikebana throughout Bulgaria.