Flower Club International

Flower Stories: Uno Fujisawa’s Edible Ikebana

Meet Uno Fujisawa, a creator making unique edible ikebana arrangements in Amsterdam.

Uno began including fruits and vegetables as part of her meditative ikebana practice during the lockdown, when flowers were considered non-essential items. Her simple sculptural arrangements bring out the beauty of fruits and vegetables and remind us to enjoy the beauty that exists in everyday life.

Discover Uno’s unique journey to ikebana her passion for fruits and vegetables in our Q&A below.

1. How were you introduced to Ikebana?

I love flowers and grass since I was a child. I used to play with them (I still do that, now in different style), but I never learned ikebana while I was living in Japan. When I started living in the Netherlands, I had many opportunities to ask my European friends about Japan, and they often knew more about Japan and its culture than I did. I felt like I needed to know more about my own culture. At that time I was learning pottery, and in the same class I met my ikebana teacher and have been studying with her ever since.

2. Why do you love Ikebana?

I love Ikebana because I am able to connect with nature in my daily life, it works as a meditational practice for me and also because I was able to develop a sense of beauty.

3. What is the best advice you have received through your ikebana studies?

That Ikebana can be a safe space to express myself. I got this advice from my teacher. It wasn’t a direct advice with words, but I really appreciate her attitude.

4. Your concept – edible ikebana – is really creative. How did you come up with this and decide to pursue it as your niche?

I’m experimenting Edible Ikebana since 2020 due to COVID-19. The lockdown experience had a strong impact on me, the Dutch government did not consider flowers to be essential during this time, so no one could get flowers, anywhere. As I said before, Ikebana works as a meditational practise for me, and I needed that moment to relax myself, but I couldn’t have it, because I thought I needed flowers to do so.  At the time, I was living on a 3rd flour apartment and I didn’t have any flowers, not even on my small balcony. We could only go out to do ‘Essential’ shopping. Going to the Saturday market was already part of my routine (even before covid), and what I love the most about the market is that you can really see the products on their prime. Usually, at normal supermarkets, the leaves and stems of fruits and veggies are cut for sell/control reasons, but at local markets you can still find funny shapes products. So I decided to find beauty not only in flowers, and use ikebana to express how I understand our world. That’s how I started using fruits and veggies.

5. Are there any artists who you look up to or inspire you most?

Nature.

6. Where do you source your materials & containers?

Everything can be my “materials and containers”. I care more about the story behind things. But I like to go to second hand shops to find fun containers.

7. How would you describe your style of Ikebana?

I consider my ikebana to be close to what still life paintings represent.

8. Do you have a favourite material or season?

I enjoy all seasons. I guess everyone enjoys Spring-Summer. Winter is a challenging season for me, but I’m enjoying finding beauty from emptiness. (Actually, you will find many things and you will realise it’s not empty at all).

9. What is the advice you would give to someone who is studying or teaching Ikebana?

Follow your heart, not ego.

10. Do you have any good Ikebana secrets / tips to share?

Limitation makes you creative, before you go to get new materials/vases, think and create something with what you already have or around you now.

11. What is ahead in your flower future?

I have no idea, but I’m already exciting to see what comes to me.

12. For flower lovers – where would you recommend they visit in Amsterdam in a 24 hour visit?

When you walk in Amsterdam, you can find private gardens everywhere which sometimes expand to street (public space). I recommended one of them named ‘Queer Garden’ (Singel 43D, 1012VC Amsterdam). In Autumn, you can see big pumpkins decorated on the street.

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