Artist Spotlight

The Architectural Ikebana of Ryoji Nakayama

Ryoji Nakayama (Tokyo) interviewed by Jessica Craven (Saitama)

I’ve never studied art formally, I played a lot outside when I was small, and I think I naturally acquired the skills to make things out of natural elements such as wood or bamboo.

Sogetsu Ikebana constructed out of twigs and camilla flowers.

Sogetsu Ikebana featuring a dahlia flower and constructed bamboo.

Ikebana is the Japanese art of flower arrangement. To describe the artwork of Ryoji Nakayama, it first helps to know a little about the Sogetsu School of Ikebana. Founded in 1927, it is one of the youngest ikebana schools in Japan and one of the most avant-garde.

Sogetsu Ikebana is based on the philosophy that anyone can do ikebana; anywhere, anytime, and with any material. Conventional plant material, as well as unconventional man-made materials, can be used in Sogetsu Ikebana. For Ryoji, “unconventional man-made materials” are synonymous with architecture, and his ikebana works innovatively blend floral and architectural elements.

J: WHERE ARE YOU FROM IN JAPAN, AND WHEN DID YOU START STUDYING ARTS?

R: I was born in Hokkaido and grew up in a rural area of Saitama surrounded by beautiful nature. I’ve never studied art formally, I played a lot outside when I was small, and I think I naturally acquired the skills to make things out of natural elements such as wood or bamboo.

I studied landscape design at my second university (after studying chemistry and biology at my first university) around eight years ago. Since then, I have been working part-time as a landscape designer. I have also studied ikebana and received certification as a master of ikebana five years ago.

Sogetsu Ikebana featuring cosmos flowers.

Flowers become human in ikebana.

ー Sofu Teshigahara (founder of the Sogetsu Ikebana School)

J: COULD YOU TELL US WHICH ART AND ARCHITECTURE PROJECTS YOU ARE INVOLVED IN NOW?

R: As you may know, I have my own landscape design company, so creating something new is my routine. However, this is different from other art projects, so I am always looking for opportunities to make things as a project outside of work.

J: DO YOU HAVE ANY INSPIRATION FOR YOUR WORK?

R: My surroundings have an enormous influence on my work, such as where I live, how I live, and with whom I live. . . . Also large-scale trends and the direction the world is moving towards at the time influence me. All of my inspiration and the things surrounding me become connected and a part of my artwork.

J: WHAT IS YOUR PROCESS LIKE WHEN CREATING A NEW WORK OF ART?

R: I always start with inspiration and work hard to create a shape from that.

J: YOUR IKEBANA IS INSPIRED BY SCULPTURE, RIGHT? IS THERE ANY PARTICULAR SCHOOL OF IKEBANA YOU ARE INVOLVED IN? IS SCULPTURE PART OF THE SCHOOL’S PHILOSOPHY, OR IS THIS YOUR OWN INTERPRETATION?

R: I learned Sogetsu Ikebana. My art style developed out of the school’s philosophy: “the flower becomes me.” It means that anything we make is a reflection of ourselves.

“Flowers become human in ikebana.” ー Sofu Teshigahara (founder of the Sogetsu Ikebana School)

J: COULD YOU TELL US ABOUT ANY EXHIBITIONS OR INSTALLATIONS YOU HAVE TAKEN PART IN?

R: I have participated in several ikebana exhibitions. Also, I exhibited my gardening artwork in the renowned “Hibiya Gardening Show” in Tokyo, where I received first prize in 2017 and third prize in 2018.

J: DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE FOR PEOPLE INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE ABOUT IKEBANA, GARDENING/ LANDSCAPING, OR ARCHITECTURE?

R: Please don’t hesitate to ask me anything anytime. You can contact me through my website.

A small garden Ryoji made in 2018 for Narita Airport. He completed it in just one night.

Ryoji Nakayama is a landscape designer and multi-disciplinary artist and architect living in Tokyo. You can see his landscape and gardening work through his website listed above. You can also see more of his ikebana work on his Instagram and his urban sketches on another Instagram account.

Jessica Craven is a fifth-year American JET living in Saitama. On weekends, she enjoys hiking in remote areas of Saitama or taking day trips to Tokyo. When not adventuring, she can be found reading or creating her own artwork, which can be seen on her Instagram.

Sogestsu Ikebana featuring baby’s breath and constructed bamboo.

Ryoji’s prize-winning artwork for the 2018 “Hibiya Gardening Show.”

Interior detail of the construction from the 2018 “Hibiya Gardening Show.”

Sogestsu Ikebana featuring red pine branches.