Higashi Kiyokazu, Meditation, 2014, madake bamboo, rattan, 10.25 x 15 x 7 in.

Bamboo Flower Vessels
1601 Paseo de Peralta, Santa Fe, NM

With spring in full swing, TAI Modern invites you to discover the quiet beauty and layered history of woven bamboo flower vessels — sculptural forms that hold blossoms as well as centuries of Japanese artistic tradition.

The association between flowers and bamboo vessels in Japan dates back to the 6th century, when Buddhism was introduced from China. In early practices, flower petals were offered in shallow bamboo trays before images of the Buddha, a gesture of reverence that gradually evolved. By the Kamakura period (1192–1333), these offerings transformed into arrangements of stemmed flowers and expanded beyond religious ritual into everyday life. Flower displays became an integral element of interior spaces, and bamboo baskets emerged as favored vessels for ikebana, admired for their natural harmony and refined craftsmanship.

Early bamboo masters created vessels with the understanding that they would be displayed with flowers, requiring a deep knowledge of ikebana principles. Today, while many artists approach these works as sculptural objects in their own right, the dialogue between vessel and bloom remains essential.

To view these elegant works of art, click here.