We are very grateful to our wonderful judges who generously gave us their valuable input. Thank you Mr Ken Smith (Art, Design & Architecture, Monash University), Ms Lesley Kehoe (Lesley Kehoe Galleries), Ms Susan Renouf (Fashion, RMIT University), Dr Yoshiho Kobayashi (Kyoto Women’s University) , Ms Hiroe Swen (Ceramic Artist) and Dr Osamu Inoue (Kyoto University of Art & Design).
Their contribution made this award, the world's first online Ikebana competition truly unique. It is so rare for Ikebana students to be assessed and to receive comments from art specialists like our judges. Please visit the “Judges” page for their profiles.
We are pleased to announce that the winner of Ikebana Galley Award 2013 is Irene Killalea from Brisbane, Australia. Irene’s teacher is Lily Karmatz in Sogetsu school of Ikebana. Irene will receive Aus $200 and a certificate from Ikebana Gallery.
Our judges were asked to choose three works out of the five finalists in the order of their preference and the results were as follows:
Mr Smith: 1.Irene (a), 2. Lucy, 3. Bonnie
Ms Kehoe: 1. Irene (a), 2. Irene (d), 3. Roslyn
Ms Renouf: 1. Lucy, 2. Irene (a), 3. Irene (d)
Dr Kobayashi: 1. Irene (a), 2. Irene (d), 3. Bonnie
Ms Swen: 1. Irene (a), 2. Lucy, 3. Bonnie
We allocated 3 points to the first choice, 2 to the second and 1 to the third. The results were 14 points for Irene (a), 7 points for Lucy, 5 points for Irene (d), 3 points for Bonnie and 1 point for Roslyn. Following are comments from our judges for each work.
Irene (a)
Mr Smith: A work of many and strong contrasts: formality/informality; movement/stasis; openness/containment; line/form; green/red, that somehow resolves all these into a unified ensemble.
Ms Kehoe: I find this a perfect example of yin and yang balances: the solids, in both colour and form, complemented and contrasted beautifully with the lace-like fragility of their backdrop. The long red vertical suggests a line in a Shinoda painting! Perfect harmony.
Ms Renouf: The choice of textures in such a simple combination is at once unusual and striking. The colours are pleasing, as is the entire balance of the work, and the trailing stem has some mystery.
Dr Kobayashi: I’m impressed that the artist has made such effective use of line and color in this piece. ( 植物が持つ「線」と「色」の効果的な使用が素晴らしい。)
Lucy
Mr Smith: An unusual work that suspends plant forms in two transparent substances; air and water, and in doing so draws attention to their fundamental importance in the natural world.
Ms Renouf: I like the classic use of glass vase and water, with only 2 elements in the arrangement. The choice of green, with the richly contrasting purple orchids is striking. I also like the off-centre balance and the delicacy of the arrangement.
Irene (d)
Ms Kehoe: Good choice of vessel, a challenge with the green line but overall does not achieve the harmony of work 'a'.
Ms Renouf: I love the vase, and the simple work. The colours are perfect, but perhaps the beauty lies as much in the choice of vase as the floral arrangement.
Dr Kobayashi: This work very effectively demonstrates the traditional Ikebana concept of mizugiwa (the point where plants touch water) and composition of space. However, the use of color is a bit too simplistic. ( いけ花が伝統的に持つ要素である「水際の美しさ」「空間把握」を生かしている点が素晴らしい。少し植物（花）の部分の色彩が単調であるのが惜しまれる。)
Bonnie
Mr Smith: Also a work of unusual contrasts that command attention by their mixture of subtlety and drama.
Dr Kobayashi: Bonnie has effectively drawn on Ikebana concept of space in the composition of this work. ( いけ花が伝統的に持つ要素である「空間把握」を生かしている点が素晴らしい。)
Roslyn
Ms Kehoe: The basis of a good idea but lost in the manifestation. Find this unbalanced. Interesting choice of materials.
Congratulations to the winner, Irene and to the other finalists. Thank you to all the Ikebana students who have shared their works on this blog. We are looking forward to receiving more images of your works for the Ikebana Gallery Award 2014.
Ikebana Gallery Award FAQ
Q: How can I submit my work?
A: Use Email or Facebook.
To make submission easier, we have started a Ikebana Gallery Facebook Page, https://www.facebook.com/IkebanaGallery
Now you have 2 options to submit your works.
- Send by email. Please see Award page in our blog for the details, http://ikebanaaustralia.blogspot.com.au/p/award.html
- Simply like Ikebana Gallery Facebook Page and post and share your work. https://www.facebook.com/IkebanaGallery Your post needs to be approved to appear on the wall of the page. If you don’t have a facebook account, you cannot upload your work directly. However, you can still see the page.
Q: What happens next?
A: From facebook to blog.
We hope that more Ikebana works will appear on Ikebana Gallery Facebook Page. Then, Ikebana Gallery Committee will constantly select works from the Facebook Page and publish up to about 300 works per year on this blog, Ikebana Gallery Australia. Those works on the blog will be considered for the Ikebana Gallery Award.
Q: Can anyone post on the facebook page?
A: Yes, but there are some conditions for Ikebana teachers.
Please note that the Ikebana Gallery Facebook Page is for Ikebana students. To be considered for Ikebana Gallery Award, you have to be a student of Ikebana at the time when you are submitting your work.
Qualified Ikebana teachers may submit their works to the Ikebana Gallery Facebook Page, but they have to indicate that they are teachers. Their works will not be published on our blog.
Q: I’d like to know the result of the competition. How can you keep in touch with me?
A: Use Email or Facebook.
There are several options to be in touch with us and to receive updates. Easy options are either 1 or 2.
- Go to the Ikebana Gallery Australia Blog. Fill in and submit your email address in Follow by Email section on the right side column.
- Create a Facebook account. Like Ikebana Gallery Facebook Page and you will receive updates. https://www.facebook.com/IkebanaGallery
Simply by submitting your works you are supporting this project. If you want to support us even more, visit the “Sponsors” page in this blog.
Shoso Shimbo, PhD
Ikebana Gallery Australia