KEEPING FLOWERS ALIVE. ACOUSTIC IKEBANA

Sogetsu Plaza, Tokyo, November 8–18, 2024

“Keeping Flowers Alive. Acoustic Ikebana” was a performative installation by Katarzyna Krakowiak-Bałka, created for the “Tengoku” (“Heaven”) rock garden designed by Isamu Noguchi. The sounds of nature, the voices of the performers, the garden’s architecture, water, and hand-pleated fabrics came together to form a spatial composition inspired by the Japanese art of ikebana. The installation was accompanied by a three-day program of concerts and performances featuring vocalists, musicians, and dancers.

Tomasz Armada designed the costumes and objects used in the installation and performance pieces. The costume design, developed in collaboration with Anna Zeman, responded to the movement of the bodies, sound, and the existing architecture of the garden. The project was carried out by the Adam Mickiewicz Institute in collaboration with Zachęta—National Gallery of Art and with the support of the Polish Institute in Tokyo.

Scope of work: costumes and objects for the installation and performances
Installation artist: Katarzyna Krakowiak-Bałka
Costume design: Anna Zeman, Tomasz Armada
Curators: Paweł Pachciarek, Miki Kaneda