In Japan, there are Ikebana (flower arrangement), Sadō (tea ceremony), and Kōdō (incense ceremony), each of which was established around the 14th century. With such a long history, numerous schools or styles exist within each discipline, each with its own protocols. Many may perceive these protocols as rigid and constraining, akin to armor that inhibits self-expression.
Indeed, I share this sentiment. It often feels like suppressing oneself and adhering strictly to the rules. But was it truly like this when the masters established these activities?
The Hana-kai by Kentaro Sugi allows us to feel the essence of Ikebana.
During Hana-kai, he never purchases any flowers. Instead, he spends several days prior to the gathering hunting in Paris. What he finds are often overlooked by others: robust weeds and branches, forgotten stones, and tiny flowers blooming unnoticed.
He picks up their beauty and shares the serendipitous encounters he has with them right in front of us, the participants. Each moment, a once-in-a-lifetime encounter. In those moments that will never repeat, we will surely feel a fleeting yet profound sense of reality.
Founder of MIWA
Takeshi SATO
Kentaro Sugi (1975-)
Born to a rose farmer in Fukuoka Prefecture. He felt physical discomfort towards Western aesthetics and production methods using chemical fertilizers. At the age of 18, he embarked on the path of flowers opposite to this, studying under Kozo Harada.
He continued his unique activities based on Ikebana inherited from Kozo Harada, passed down from flower person Kozo Okada to his disciple Kozo Harada.
Currently, he conducts Hana-kai around the world, where he never purchases any floral materials but hunts for flowers in the local area over several days.During the COVID-19 pandemic, he secluded himself in a bamboo grove in Kyushu, starting pottery and discovering the ultimate form of flowers within the soil.He resumed flower gatherings in 2022.
2013 Hana-kai at museum “as it is” (Kazumi Sakata’s)
2014 Hana-kai at Naoya Shiga's former residence, Shin Yakushiji Temple, and Nigatsudo Hall at Todaiji Temple
2015 Hana-kai at Hamada Shoji Reference Museum
2016 Hana-kai in Taiwan and Shanghai
2017 Hana-kai at Todaiji Temple and dedication of flowers at a Kyogen stage, Hana-kai in Beijing
2018 Hana-kai at Rokyo-so in Odawara, Hana-kai in South Korea, the Netherlands, and Paris
2019 Solo exhibition and Hana-kai at Gallery NAO MASAKI (Nagoya)
2023 Hana-kai at Enoura Observatory - Odawara Art Foundation (Hiroshi Sugimoto)
2024 Solo exhibition and Hana-kai at Tokyo Gallery
<Hana-kai>
A Hana - kai is an event where attendees observe Kentaro Sugi arranging flowers one after another for approximately one hour. It is not a lesson.
Dates:
April 4th (Thursday) at 6:00 PM
April 5th (Friday) at 6:00 PM
April 6th (Saturday) at 7:30 PM
April 7th (Sunday) at 6:00 PM
April 12th (Friday) at 6:00 PM
April 13th (Saturday) at 6:00 PM
April 14th (Sunday) at 6:00 PM
April 25th (Thursday) at 6:00 PM
April 26th (Friday) at 6:00 PM
April 27th (Saturday) at 6:00 PM
Capacity:
5 people
Duration:
90-120 minutes.
Participation fee:
150 Euros per person
Location:
Pavilion MIWA
12 rue Jacob 75006 Paris
Notes:
There is no storage space for bags or coats, so please come as lightly dressed as possible.
