PRESS RELEASE N0: JPNEMPAK 08-014

Islamabad: 10th March, 2008

            The Embassy of Japan is planning to organize  week long Ikebana workshops and demonstrations in Islamabad and Lahore from 11th to 16th March 2008 as a part of the Japan-Pakistan Friendship Fest 2008. This cultural event is being organized with the collaboration of Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA), the Lahore Arts Council, the Japan Foundation, OPF Girls College, Pakistan-Japan Cultural Association (PJCA) Islamabad & Lahore and MEXT Alumni Association of Pakistan (MAAP).

            Mrs. Ratna Guha, who is an Ikebana expert from Sogetsu School, Tokyo, will conduct Ikebana workshops at OPF Girls College, Islamabad, from 11th to 13th March 2008, followed by her Ikebana demonstration at the National Art Gallery (PNCA) on 13th March 2008. She will also conduct Ikebana workshops and demonstration on 15th and 16th March 2008 at Alhamra Art Centre, Lahore.

            Ikebana (Japanese style of flower arrangement), which literally means “flowers kept alive”, developed into a distinct art form in Japan in the 15th century and is now practiced all over the world, including Pakistan. The attention given to the choice of plant material and its container, the placement of branches, and the relationship of the branches to the container and surrounding space have distinguished this art from purely decorative use of flowers. The fragrance of the flowers and artistic skill with a creative approach gives spiritual as well as aesthetic pleasure to the viewer of this form of art. Flowers do not look just like flowers as they are, but unique pieces of art.(End)