The installation was designed for the ‘Hana So’ exhibition held by Akane Teshigahara, fourth head (= Iemoto) of the Sogetsu school of ikebana, to commemorate its 90th anniversary. 

While pieces to be exhibited are normally decided upon prior to the design of the space, which is made to accentuate the objects on display, the client in this case proposed the reverse approach. The design of the space actually serves as inspiration for the the ikebana pieces exhibited. A tiered stone garden created by Isamu Noguchi serves as the venue, and making the most of this unique structure is an essential part of the design. 

A 0.5-mm-thick stainless steel sheet with a mirror finish was cut into pieces shaped like collections of linked rhombuses. Each piece was then individually fitted to lay atop the stone garden in order to create an “ivy of mirrors”. The ivy reflects the surroundings while also revealing glimpses of the texture and appearance of the stone garden beneath it, and diffused reflections of the colours and outlines of the exhibited ikebana flowers produce a kaleidoscopic visual effect.

The addition of this extra layer between the two works – the ikebana flowers and the stone garden – creates harmony between the disparate elements, as if the flowers were gently unfolding over the stone garden.