Tokyo
I saw some transformative art a few
days ago. I saw 200 flower arrangements done by the best living
students of the Sogetsu School of ikebana. In my opinion, more than
110 of the artists represented are better than the top dozen artists
in the U.S. today, including Koons, Rauschenberg and Frank Gehry.
Is America ready for ikebana? The art world has accommodated found art for most of the last century, conceptual art and performance art. Ikebana only lasts a few days, includes many found pieces, is influenced by the water container that holds it and is strongly influence by the context. Americans still go to see improv theater, live music and dance. We know art can be transient.
I think America is ready for new great art.
I have been to ikebana exhibits in San Francisco put on by the S.F. chapter of the International Ikebana Society. Not more than two artists from those exhibits would even qualify for the exhibit I saw here.
I believe we are ready for great ikebana. I plan to start working on the goal of a first rate, world class exhibition when I get back to San Francisco.