Chennai enjoyed a rare treat at a two-day Korean Flower Art Show held under the auspices of the INKO Centre and Ggotggozi Korea.
A faint, tantalising fragrance of carnation, rose, lily and iris nestling between ferns, twigs and moss beckoned visitors. The delicacy and beauty of the flowers, specially flown from Korea, and the celebration of spaces between the flowers and the branches, is unique to Korea’s flower arrangement or Ggotggozi.
Each arrangement spoke of harmony and Nature’s beauty, suggesting streams, grass and river-washed rocks, an effect heightened by the simple white ceramic containers in which the flowers were arranged.
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Setting off white against purple carnations in a stunning arrangement with twigs and roses; roses clambering over a moss covered stone; white lilies placed in contrasting black containers… a treat, indeed! Thick leaves folded to form containers holding white roses and a formation of white twigs in a vase like formation over which orchids clambered, were exquisite examples of ‘natural’ floral art.
Pervading the 23 floral arrangements done by 13 Korean artists, were the basic tenets of Korean art -- minimalism, peace and harmony.
Ms. Kwak, who lives in Chennai, had created a fascinating arrangement as a tribute to India, which had the colours of the Indian Flag along with lotus, onion flowers and woven strips of ‘phoenix’ leaves, all found in India.
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According to Ms. Kwak, the Korean flower art might have begun as floral offerings of Shamanism and Buddhism, which were both popular in the Tusan period.
“Today, floral art has no religious connotation,” she says. However, historians believe that the evolution of the Korean Tea ceremony probably influenced flower arrangements. As the elegant elaborate tea ceremony developed, floral arrangements too were used to enhance it. Sprigs of pear blossoms, leaves, ferns and grass were used.
“The Korean Tea ceremony is called ‘Da Hwa’ or tea flower ceremony,” says Ms. Kwak. “We sit on the ground on mats for the ‘Da Hwa’ ceremony with a low table in the middle on which a small, simple flower arrangement is placed, consisting perhaps of 2-3 flowers. By and large, flower art is not connected to tradition, or taught as tradition to young women, though there is an academy in Seoul where this art is taught. Just like many old aspects of our culture such as calligraphy and the tea ceremony, flower arrangements too are coming back into vogue.” The Ggotggozi exhibition, the first ever to be held in India, also marks the signing of a MoU between INKO Centre and Ggotggozi Korea. As Rathi Jaffer, director of INKO Centre, puts it, “We will partner with them for demonstrations, workshops, flower exhibitions, etc., to sensitise Indians about the Korean culture.” Floral art enthusiasts can now look forward to Ggotggozi flower arrangements classes soon.