MY IKEBANA PRACTICE

I practise Sogetsu Ikebana, a contemporary evolution of the traditional Japanese art of floral arrangement. Thought rooted in the philosophy of Ikebana, it opens to individual expression and approach of unconventional materials. It is an art practice that invites personal interpretation while honouring its cultural heritage.

My Ikebana performance theme: Live in the moment. Embrace transience.

Ikebana invites mindfulness, presence, and a sense of calm through the balance and connection of elements. It’s a gentle nudge to be fully present, to cherish the here and now, and to shift our vitality away from dwelling on the past or fearing the future. Ikebana embodies impermanence, it speaks through nature’s fleeting beauty and guides my choice of materials.

The connection to nature and sustainability is intrinsic to Ikebana's philosophy. It shapes not only my materials use but also how I engage with the world. I work with found objects, repurposing them mindfully, selecting materials with intention, and reinterpreting discarded elements into a second-life. Twigs, withered leaves, and fallen petals holds as much artistry as fresh blooms. Ikebana reveals grace in nature not in perfection, but in presence and transformation.

In an era of excess, Ikebana offers an alternative, a return to mindfulness, harmony, and an intimate dialogue with nature. Though rooted in Japanese tradition, it speaks a universal language of the human-nature equilibrium, rhythm and impermanence. Ikebana practice fosters cultural exchange by honouring the past while embracing the future. Through it, we connect with history, reinterpret it for the present, and bridge the old with the new.

Ikebana is more than an art form; it’s a way of seeing, a way of being. Like nature, we are constantly evolving, and within that transformation lies subtlety.

SELECTED PROJECTS

Hedy Leung's  'Assemble' Ikebana performance at HIAP Helsinki presented by PF25 cultural projectsHedy Leung's  'Assemble' Ikebana performance at HIAP Helsinki presented by PF25 cultural projects
Hedy Leung's 'SWOOSH! POKE! POW! OOF!' Ikebana performance at Open Hand Open Space, ReadingHedy Leung's 'SWOOSH! POKE! POW! OOF!' Ikebana performance at Open Hand Open Space, Reading
Hedy Leung’s ‘Ethnobotanic Resonance’ Ikebana performance at London Metropolitan UniversityHedy Leung’s ‘Ethnobotanic Resonance’ Ikebana performance at London Metropolitan University
Sogetsu Ikebana composition by Hedy Leung at Giardina, Messe Zurich, featuring cotton plant, and vessel by Dorothee SauterSogetsu Ikebana composition by Hedy Leung at Giardina, Messe Zurich, featuring cotton plant, and vessel by Dorothee Sauter
Hedy Leung's 'Sogetsu Ikebana 3 x 7 = 21' performance-installation at Atelier Mondial BaselHedy Leung's 'Sogetsu Ikebana 3 x 7 = 21' performance-installation at Atelier Mondial Basel
Sogetsu Ikebana demonstration by Hedy Leung, with vessels by Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec and Laura Sattin at Vitrahaus, GermanySogetsu Ikebana demonstration by Hedy Leung, with vessels by Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec and Laura Sattin at Vitrahaus, Germany
Hedy Leung 'Starlit Ethnobotanical Wonders' Ikebana performance at Ma UMI residencies Ishigaki JapanHedy Leung 'Starlit Ethnobotanical Wonders' Ikebana performance at Ma UMI residencies Ishigaki Japan
Digital collage 'Meet you at midnight', part of the Fractured Ephemera series, showcasing fluid and layered Ikebana elementsDigital collage 'Meet you at midnight', part of the Fractured Ephemera series, showcasing fluid and layered Ikebana elements
Sogetsu Ikebana workshop, featuring with unconventional materials, Ikebana International SwitzerlandSogetsu Ikebana workshop, featuring with unconventional materials, Ikebana International Switzerland
Inspired by nature’s palettes, exploring fluidity and balance in the Sogetsu Ikebana artInspired by nature’s palettes, exploring fluidity and balance in the Sogetsu Ikebana art
Hedy Leung's '202200080026' Ikebana performance-installation at E-werk FreiburgHedy Leung's '202200080026' Ikebana performance-installation at E-werk Freiburg
Hedy Leung's 'Menhir Tapestry 1' performance at Radio X 25th anniversary X_ARTS FestivalHedy Leung's 'Menhir Tapestry 1' performance at Radio X 25th anniversary X_ARTS Festival
Sogetsu Ikebana arrangement by Hedy Leung, displayed in a basket by Maeda Chikubosai II at Design Miami, Messe Basel, BaselSogetsu Ikebana arrangement by Hedy Leung, displayed in a basket by Maeda Chikubosai II at Design Miami, Messe Basel, Basel