KADO - Ikebana Expo

The 3 Ikebana International Switzerland Chapters cordially invite you to the exhibition.

Ikebana (生け花) is the Japanese art of flower arranging. It translates as "living flowers". The tradition dates back to the Heian period (794-1185) and is rooted in Buddhism and Shintoism. In ikebana, flowers and branches are usually arranged in bowls or vases. An ikebana arrangement is a work inspired by nature and is more than just the placement of flowers. Also known as KADO (華道 "way of flowers"), ikebana is the endeavor to achieve harmony between inside and outside. This harmony is the soul of an arrangement that radiates calm and inspires contemplation. Natural growth is expressed in the same way as decay. The eternal is alien to ikebana, because nature and life are subject to constant change.

Ikebana International (I.I.) is an international non-profit organization that promotes mutual understanding and friendship between Japan and other countries through Ikebana and other Japanese arts. The dream of founder Ellen Gordon Allen (1897-1972) to unite the nations of the world "as with a garland of flowers" through ikebana has been realized in over 60 countries to date. The honorary president is HRH Princess Takamado.
Ikebana International is the umbrella organization and not a separate Ikebana school. Rather, it is an interest group of various schools, consisting of people of different nationalities. Many of the members have undergone years of training to become masters. Some schools place classical ikebana at the forefront of their teaching programs, others prefer modern forms; many combine both styles.

The three Ikebana International Switzerland Chapters: Basel, Geneva and Zurich are non-profit, chartered chapters (regional group) of Ikebana International.

Ikebana is not only visually stunning, but also has a rich cultural and philosophical meaning. The joint exhibition of the three Ikebana International Switzerland chapters brings the diversity of this artistic form of expression to life.
To mark the 150th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Switzerland and Japan, the then Japanese Crown Prince visited Interlaken in 2014. This year marks the 160th anniversary of the relationship and the 10th anniversary of the imperial visit.

Free admission allows visitors to experience the beauty of ikebana and learn more about the deeply rooted philosophy. It is an opportunity to immerse yourself in the tranquillity and mindfulness that Ikebana promotes. The variety of arrangements from different schools and styles offers a comprehensive insight into this unique way of flowers (KADO) and appeals to both Ikebana lovers and Ikebana novices.

The exhibition is not only a showcase of the talents of Ikebanists, but an opportunity for visitors to understand the cultural and philosophical aspects of this ancient tradition. It is an invitation to discover the artistry, symbolism and serenity of the way of flowers.

We are delighted to welcome you.
In friendship through flowers
Ikebana International Switzerland Chapters 🌸

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We would like to capture unique moments through photos or movies. This is the reason why, by participating in the event, you agree to be photographed or filmed. You acknowledge that we will publish the resulting material and memories of this event both in print and online or on social networks.

#IkebanaInternational #IkebanaSwitzerland


Note: This text was translated by machine translation software and not by a human translator. It may contain translation errors.