ART IN BLOOM - BOSTON MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS
Thu, Apr 25,- Sun, Apr 28, 2024
Masumi Ichikawa Naylor and Rei Kameda designed this stunning arrangement inspired by the museum piece : Drum Stand in the Form of Two Birds and Two Tigers. DATE: 4TH–3RD CENTURY B.C.
What was your first impression of the art piece?
We thought the art piece was simple and beautiful yet very mysterious. Our initial thoughts were, “What kind of meaning does this art piece have?” and “What was it made for?”
How did the art piece influence your plant material selection?
As we researched the Warring States Period, we found similar drum stands in the form of phoenixes and tigers in vivid colors. We imagined how the wooden-colored art piece originally looked and sounded when it was used in the rituals. We selected plant materials for expressing the vibrant colors that have been part of Chinese culture, the dynamism of the sacred animals, and the sound of the drum.
Why did you choose this vessel?
We needed a vessel that would enhance the vivid colors of the flowers. The vessel was desirable since its metallic texture would give a crisp feel while absorbing the colors of flower materials and the background to create a harmony of a piece.
What story do you want visitors to know about your design? This can be about your design process, how you worked as a team, or how your overall design was inspired by the artwork, etc.
The phoenixes and tigers gave us a strong yet somehow humorous and lovable impression. To work on our design, we started with expressing the interestingness and the dynamism of the animals. We decided that strelitzias, or birds of paradise, as its name states, is perfect for the phoenixes which connect our world to that of gods and the deceased. For ferocious-looking two tigers yet friendly, we selected yellow pincushions, and for the beautiful circle of the drum, a blue hydrangea.
Is there anything special you would like the museum visitors to know?
We belong to Ikenobo, a flower arrangement school established in 16th Century Japan. Despite the significant difference in the time and place, we found in the drum stand deep connections to the core spirits of ikebana, such as reverence for nature and others, which helped us arrange the flowers.