The custom of celebrating cherry blossoms, which has been practised in Japan for many centuries, has also been adopted and cultivated on the Vitra Campus in Weil am Rhein, Germany, for several years as a connection to buildings by Japanese architects such as Andō Tadao and Shinohara Kazuo. This year, due to the cold and wet, the blossoms refused to open and so the cherry blossom festival could not take place in the usual way, with a stroll under the blossom trees and refreshments.
Instead, the library in the VitraHaus Level 1 opened its doors for a special event. On Saturday, 1 April 2023 and Sunday, 2 April 2023, there were Ikebana demonstrations with Monika Nussberger, Ursula Göldi, Wally Gschwind and Hedy Leung, each at 1:30 and 3:30 pm. After a short speech and introduction by Monika, the special challenge for Monika, Ursula, Wally and Hedy was that for the first time they make arrangements in vases by Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec from the Vitra Shop, which was a very different and interesting experience.
The numerous guests also enjoyed the insight into the various schools, through the well-explained demonstrations, including a second demonstration in more conventional Ikebana vessels.
All the arrangements were displayed on tables. With cherry blossom branches, anemones, forsythia, iris, freesia, carnations, phlox, gypsophilla, corkscrew hazel, tulips, asparagus, salix, viburnum, strelitzia etc. brought spring into the home.
Looking out of the window at the upcoming cherry blossom dream and the memory of this beautiful occasion with many satisfied guests makes spring arise in us.
The Ikebana Basel Chapter would like to thank the entire Vitra team for this wonderful opportunity.
A big thank you goes to Jan and Monika Nussberger for the organisation. Thanks to everyone, including Peter, for carrying water over 2 floors countless times and also to the ladies from the reception who were very supportive.
The videos of the demonstrations can be seen on instagram.com/ikebana.basel 🌸
