For Beauty and Tranquility – within and without!

A few days ago I was invited to an Ikebana exhibition by the Sogetsu School to cover it for my blog. The exhibition was organized at Rosy’s Salon, and was followed by a talk by the beautician, or rather a question and answers session, where eager ladies of all ages showered her with their queries, and she patiently answered each.

But to get back to the subject at hand – the Ikebana exhibits. Although there were only 12 pieces on display, what needs to be commended is not just the creativity of these ladies, but their enthusiasm, commitment and determination to carry on their exhibitions and activities in spite of the pandemic scare. With most of the members who were exhibiting -- nine are teachers as well -- on the wrong side of 60, they had diligently and artistically managed to arrange their displays spread over three areas – the reception, entrance foyer and parlour – maintaining adequate space between each arrangement. They had also kept the Q and A outdoors, everyone religiously wearing their masks throughout the programme.

So, the first exhibit, created by Perin Mooraj, was at the reception area, a profusion of purple and mauve chrysanthemums arranged in two polished wicker baskets, with babies’ breath, wild grass and twigs artistically arranged, connecting the two containers. As you walked into the foyer, there were two other beautiful arrangements on the floor – one by Nayyer Arshad and the other by Nishat Alvi. While Nayyer’s was a simple display of spray-painted babies’ breath, purple statis, face palm, foliage and twigs in a large earthenware vase, the other was an elaborate arrangement basically made with spray-painted babies’ breath, tall twigs and foliage. It made one marvel at what imagination and creativity can produce, even with the simplest of tools.

Once you entered the main parlour, the remaining nine arrangements greeted you, mostly interspersed on table tops and counters between chairs for servicing clients, adding to the aesthetic environment of the space, and maintaining safe distances between arrangements so that clients or visitors are not placed at risk. The fourth arrangement, displayed in a shallow green ceramic container, was by Shirin Poonawala comprising yellow chrysanthemums offset by dark green foliage and the branch of a tree. 

The next arrangement, by Tarannum Lakda, was one of the larger displays, comprising orange gladiolas, white chrysanthemums leaves and twigs, arranged within a bamboo frame, giving it a picturesque touch.

My personal favourite, as much for the innovative design of the container used as for the simplicity and artistic use of the plants, was the one arranged by Saman Hasan. She had arranged wheat stalks, yellow chrysanthemums, leaves and asparagus in a white bag-shaped vase which was eye-catching, and most fetching. 

Madiha Taha’s arrangement comprising basically mauve chrysanthemums and leaves had been done in a rectangular container, the arrangement divided into two parts, and then unified by twigs and leaves.

Another simple and elegant arrangement was by director of Karachi Sogetsu Study Group, Shahina Zuberi. A combination of statis, pink lilies and areca palm leaves, the arrangement in the vase was given further character by bamboo sticks propped against the vase.

I loved Nafisa Baig’s arrangement too, done in painted hollow bamboos. She had managed to put together bright orange Asiatic lilies, yellow chrysanthemums, babies’ breath, and leaves artfully shaped by hand into an indisputably attractive display.

Rubina Faiz’s arrangement with white gladiolas, money plant, babies’ breath and twigs done in and across two tiny containers was another artistic display. However, the arrangement that warrants special mention was the one done in a hand-made improvised dried leaf ‘basket’ rather than in a purchased container, by Nazli Baig. With the basket an intrinsic part of the arrangement, the display also incorporated white chrysanthemums, babies’ breath, bamboo sticks and money plant. 

Perhaps the largest and most elaborate arrangement was the last, by Nuzhat Jamali.  Arranged in a steel frame, the pink and purple chrysanthemums, babies’ breath, ferns, areca palm leaves, painted dried leaves and dried twigs made for a fetching display.

All I know is after seeing all these creative pieces, some using barely any flowers, I feel quite remorseful that I have never bothered to go the extra mile and arrange the many beautiful flowers I received as presents, into artistic displays. No longer will I be content just depositing them in vases and enjoying their beauty and perfume!