○What is AstroIkebana ?
AstroIkebana, with the concept of “Ikebana x Space”, is an interactive art that provides people with new notice and learning through experiences such as practice and viewing of Ikebana (Japanese art of flower arrangement) with the theme of space.
We conceptualize universal messages that are common among flowers, people and space based on knowledge of space revealed by cutting edge researches and latest trend of space development and exploration. Based on the concepts, we produce and exhibit artworks, and hold experience-based workshops to touch space and Ikebana.
The cycle of birth, prosperity and death repeated at each time scale of flowers, people and space. Infinite space that spreads out from flowers in front to the end of outer space. Flowers, people and stars that beautifully shines without being noticed by anyone.
By delivering diverse viewpoints and spiritual values that space potentially holds with aesthetics of Ikebana, “less is more”, to people intuitively, we aim to broaden Ikebana and realize new science communication that can make space familiar.
○What is Space ?
As space is an object of cutting-edge science and field of development as a frontier of human beings, at the same time, it provides people with universal new view points and set of values. Until now, people look up space, pray for stars and think about the moon. In the time when humans reached space, what viewpoints can space bring to people? Firstly, when you think what people bring to space, it means that you think what is really important to humans and what is humanity. Secondly, space provides you with the viewpoint to overview the earth. By looking down the earth floating alone in space, you can understand that we have to solve environmental issues and disputes beyond the border to maintain the irreplaceable earth sustainably. Lastly, space has magnificent expanse in terms of time and space, provide us with spatiotemporally broad viewpoints. In the magnificent history of space, the earth, life and humans, we, now, exist as the first living matter that goes out to space. It will take more time to think through that meaning.
○Space of AstroIkebana
When we look up space from the earth, the earth is also looked by space. Same as this contrast, flowers also look us. Space-related phenomena on celestial bodies observed from the earth happen based on complicated factors such as positional relationships.
Thinking of space of AstroIkebana, flowers, people and outer-space are all connected, and we can feel expansion of space in front of us to the end of outer space. Although space-related phenomena and Ikebana sounds far, it co-exists in the same mind, like relationship of a distant couple.
Putting mind of space, Ikebana assimilates into space without realizing. A spark in the transience like the butterfly’s dream stirs imagination of viewers of AstroIkebana. The space spread from Ikebana in front of you is surely connected to the end of space.
