Olen valmistunut filosofian maisteriksi Helsingin yliopistosta pääaineinani germaaninen ja englantilainen filologia. Työurani tein Finnairin palveluksessa toimien lentoemäntänä ja purserina 37 vuoden ajan. Aloitin ikebanaopinnot Tokiossa vuonna 1984 Sogetsu-ikebanan mestariopettajan, Koka Fukushiman johdolla ja minulle myönnettiin Sogetsun korkein oppiarvo 'Riji' vuonna 2012. Olen opettanut ikebanaa vuodesta 1991 ja osallistunut näyttelyihin sekä pitänyt demonstraatioita, workshopeja ja luentoja Suomessa ja ulkomailla, Japania myöten.
Oma Ranka-ikebanaryhmäni on muodostunut vuosien varrella tiiviisti harrastaneista oppilaistani, joista monet ovat suorittaneet Sogetsu-koulun oppilas- ja opettajatodistuksia. Ranka-ryhmä on järjestänyt näyttelyitä helsinkiläisissä gallerioissa vuodesta 2011 alkaen. Ranka-ryhmään kuuluu noin 30 jäsentä ja sen kunniajäsen on Sogetsu-koulun mestariopettaja Koka Fukushima.
Ikebanataiteeseen syventyminen on lisännyt kiinnostustani nykytaiteeseen laajemminkin, ja työskentelen myös kuvataiteen, varsinkin kierrätysmateriaaleista tehtyjen installaatioiden sekä modernin tanssin ja performanssin keinoin. Olen opiskellut myös japanilaista kalligrafiataidetta ja perehtynyt moniin perinteisiin japanilaisiin taidemuotoihin, joiden vaikutus näkyy kaikessa taiteessani.
Vuonna 2013 ilmestyi toimittamani, ikebanaa monipuolisesti käsittelevä julkaisu Sogetsu - ikebana tänään (HASHI 34, Japanilaisen kulttuurin Ystävät ry).
NÄYTTELYITÄ • KUNNIATEHTÄVIÄ
- Fyyri Gallery, Kirkkonummi, 2024
- Osallistuminen Ikebana Internationalin maailmankongressin näyttelyyn, Okinawa 2017
- Yksityisnäyttely, maalauksia ja piirroksia, Galeria M:ssä, Tokio, 2016
- Vuotuiset Sogetsu-ikebananäyttelyt Takashimayassa, Tokio 1993-2023
- Osallistuminen Koka Fukushiman ikebananäyttelyyn, Galleria K:ssa, Tokio 2014
- Demonstraatio Ikebana International-järjestön maailmankongressissa, Tokio, 2012
- Osallistuminen Yoshiko Ichinosen kalligrafianäyttelyyn, Galeria M:ssä, Tokio, 2011
- Osallistuminen Koka Fukushiman ikebananäyttelyyn Harajukun Galleriassa, Tokio, 2010
- Osallistuminen Koka Fukushiman ikebanademonstraatioon, Gakushikaikanissa, Tokio, 2008
- RANKA-ryhmän näyttelyt Galleria Johan S, Galleria Pirkko-Liisa Topelius, Galleria Mafka & Alakoski Helsinki 2011-2020
KUNNIAMAININNAT • APURAHAT • LUOTTAMUSTEHTÄVÄT
- Sogetsu Overseas Honor Award-kunniakirja 2017 (Akane Teshigahara)
- Sogetsu Commemorative Overseas Akane Teshigahara Award-kunniakirja 2007 (Akane Teshigahara)
- Shin Jin Sho -Award Sogetsun vuosinäyttelyssä 1999 (Hiroshi Teshigahara)
- Japanin Suomen suurlähetystön myöntämä Certificate of Commendation, 2000
- Sasakawa-säätiön apuraha ikebanan opiskeluun ja performanssiesityisiin Tokiossa 2008
- Opetusministeriön stipendi Nagoyan Expon ystävyysvierailuun, 2005
- ASLA undergraduate stipendi opintoihin Arizonan yliopistossa 1964-65
- Suomen Sogetsu-ikebana ry:n Past President
- Helsinki Chapter of Ikebana Internationalin kunniajäsen ja Past President
I graduated from Helsinki University with majors in German and English Philology after spending a year at the University of Arizona as an undergraduate student. I worked 37 years for Finnair, the Finnish airline, most of the time as a Purser. During lay overs away from home I used to often take advantage of the chance to study local culture and art.
I started taking Sogetsu style ikebana lessons 1984 in Tokyo under the guidance of Sogetsu Master Teacher Koka Fukushima. In 2012 I was promoted to Riji, the highest teachers' certificate in Sogetsu School of Ikebana in Japan. I have been teaching ikebana since 1991, and given demonstrations and lectures and also participated in several exhibitions in Finland, Japan and elsewhere.
I have my own Ranka-group consisting of some 30 longstanding students several of whom have aquired students' and teachers' certificates from Sogetsu school. Master Teacher Koka Fukushima, an honorary and active member of Ranka Group has visited Finland several times, held local workshops and participating in all Ranka-exhibitions held in some Helsinki galleries since 2011.
My ikebana and calligraphy studies in Japan have greatly influenced my whole life. Modern and innovative Sogetsu style has opened up for me a whole new way of practicing other art forms such as visual arts including installations made of recycled materials as well as modern dance performance.
EXHIBITIONS • HONORARY TASKS
- Fyyri Gallery, Kirkkonummi, 2024
- Participation in Ikebana International World Convention exhibition, Okinawa 2017
- Solo exhibition of paintings and drawings, Gallery M, Tokyo 2016
- Regular participation in annual Sogetsu exhibitions, Takashimaya, Tokyo 1993-2023
- Participation in Koka Fukushima Ikebana exhibition, Gallery K, Tokyo 2014
- Demonstration at Ikebana International World Convention, Tokyo 2012
- Participation in Yoshiko Ichinose's calligraphy exhibition, Gallery M, Tokyo 2011
- Participation in Koka Fukushima Ikebana exhibition in Harajuku, Tokyo, 2010
- Ranka-group Ikebana exhibitions in Gallery Johan S, Gallery Pirkko-Liisa Topelius, Gallery Mafka & Alakoski, Helsinki 2011-2020; RANKA art space, Espoo 2015-
AWARDS • COMMENDATIONS • HONORARY POSITIONS
- Sogetsu Overseas Honor Award 2017(Akane Teshigahara)
- Sogetsu Commemorative Overseas Akane Teshigahara Award 2007, Tokyo (Akane Teshigahara)
- Shin Jin Sho Award, Sogetsu-ikebana exhibition, (Hiroshi Teshigahara), 1999, Tokyo
- Certificate of Commendation, Embassy of Japan in Finland, Helsinki, 2000
- Sasakawa Foundation Scholarhips for Ikebana and Performances in Japan 1990, 1993, 1996
- Ministry of Education grant for Nagoya Expo Friendship visit, 2005
- Asla Undergraduate Scholarship, University of Arizona, 1964-65
- Past President of Finland Sogetsu Study Group
- Past President and Honorary Member of Helsinki Chapter of Ikebana International
I graduated from Helsinki University with majors in German and English Philology after spending a year at the University of Arizona as an undergraduate student. I worked 37 years for Finnair, the Finnish airline, most of the time as a Purser. During lay overs away from home I used to often take advantage of the chance to study local culture and art.
I started taking Sogetsu style ikebana lessons 1984 in Tokyo under the guidance of Sogetsu Master Teacher Koka Fukushima. In 2012 I was promoted to Riji, the highest teachers' certificate in Sogetsu School of Ikebana in Japan. I have been teaching ikebana since 1991, and given demonstrations and lectures and also participated in several exhibitions in Finland, Japan and elsewhere.
I have my own Ranka-group consisting of some 30 longstanding students several of whom have aquired students' and teachers' certificates from Sogetsu school. Master Teacher Koka Fukushima, an honorary and active member of Ranka Group has visited Finland several times, held local workshops and participating in all Ranka-exhibitions held in some Helsinki galleries since 2011.
My ikebana and calligraphy studies in Japan have greatly influenced my whole life. Modern and innovative Sogetsu style has opened up for me a whole new way of practicing other art forms such as visual arts including installations made of recycled materials as well as modern dance performance.
EXHIBITIONS • HONORARY TASKS
- Fyyri Gallery, Kirkkonummi, 2024
- Private exhibition of paintings and drawings, Gallery M, Tokyo 2016
- Regular participation articipation in annual Sogetsu exhibitions, Takashimaya, Tokyo 1993-2023
- Participation in Koka Fukushima Ikebana exhibition, Gallery K, Tokyo 2014
- Demonstration at Ikebana International World Convention, Tokyo 2012
- Participation in Yoshiko Ichinose's calligraphy exhibition, Gallery M, Tokyo 2011
- Participation in Koka Fukushima Ikebana exhibition in Harajuku, Tokyo, 2010
- Ranka-group Ikebana exhibitions in Gallery Johan S and Pirkko-Liisa Topelius, Helsinki 2011-2014; RANKA art space 2015-
AWARDS • COMMENDATIONS • HONORARY POSITIONS
- Shin Jin Sho Award, Sogetsu-ikebana exhibition, (Hiroshi Teshigahara), 1999, Tokyo
- Sogetsu Commemorative Overseas Award 2007, Tokyo (Akane Teshigahara)
- Certificate of Commendation, Embassy of Japan in Finland, Helsinki, 2000
- Sasakawa Foundation Scholarhips for Ikebana and Performances in Japan 1990, 1993, 1996
- Ministry of Education grant for Nagoya Expo Friendship visit, 2005
- Asla Undergraduate Scholarship, University of Arizona, 1964-65
- Past President of Finland Sogetsu Study Group
- Past President and Honorary Member of Helsinki Chapter of Ikebana International
