1/28/16 8:07 PMThe Melancholy Art of Japanese Floral Arrangements

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The Melancholy Art of Japanese Floral Arrangementsby Claire Voon on November 16, 2015

Minh Häusler, “Rosa canina ‘Corallo’ — Flexi grass” (all photos courtesy the artist and Hirmer Verlag)

Ikebana, which translates to “living flowers,” is the Japanese art of floral arrangement that dates backto the 16th century. Nowadays, placing flowers and plants in a vessel isn’t generally regarded as muchan art form so much as a paid service, but the creations of those who practice contemporary ikebanahave an elegance and rhythm to their carefully worked structures that resemble living sculpture. Zürich-based artist Minh Häusler, who spent years in Asia learning the art of ikebana, has developed her ownstyle of creatively manipulated nature, approaching the centuries-old tradition with a contemporary eye.She also photographs her constructions, thereby memorializing the living structures for eternity. Over200 of her colorful images are now featured in The Fusion of Flora and Art, a book published in Juneby German publishing house Hirmer Verlag.

The wealth of images alone speaks to Häusler’s devotion to sculpting flora, but upon reading herintroduction to the book it’s even more evident that her relationship to the organic material stems from adeep kinship with nature and a fervent respect for her environment. The material with which she worksis always changing and ephemeral, and Häusler, as she puts it, has a “determination to perpetuate theeye-catching effect of Flora into something long lasting.”

1/28/16 8:07 PMThe Melancholy Art of Japanese Floral Arrangements

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Minh Häusler, “Papaver nudicaule — copper wire” (clickto enlarge)

The resulting photographs are simple, studio-like portraits of these subjects, but they do offer a senseof wonder. Rather than works one might brush off as simply decorative objects, each arrangement isinvigorated with life, occupying the blank space rather than merely existing in it.

Branches curve gracefully even while supporting vivid blossoms, extending as if they might keepgrowing if they weren’t frozen and framed. Stems wriggle their way to the sky. Flowers kiss or bow toone another. Even the man-made ceramics remain in harmonious dialogue with the life they support.

Many of the containers Häusler uses are simple, but she chooses shapes that emphasize theconfiguration of her flora. And although some vessels are exquisite, rarely do they overshadow theorganisms that emerge from them. Some of her more sculptural works even feature makeshift vasesassembled from wires, iron sheets, or papier–mâché. All these sitters are photographed against a blackor white background, highlighting the vivid coloring and various textures of the flora while lending eachimage an overall sense of calm and grace.

Though they may look it, not all the plants Häusler works with are exotic. She often uses her owngarden as a source for her arrangements, which makes the images especially arresting: commonpoppies look like creatures exploring the space with curiosity; rose petals, when attached to clotheshangers, resemble Alexander Calder mobiles. The book also includes a handy index that identifieseach species — realizing what some flowers actually are can be quite surprising.

While beautiful, especially in their ability to have us view the quotidian in a wholly newlight, Häusler’s ikebana photos are also melancholic. As she reminds in her writings, she is workingwith each arrangement in its moment of full vitality. Her photographs illustrate only that moment, andframing them individually is her way of honoring each one. The actual plants and flowers remainvulnerable to time and eventually will wither.

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Minh Häusler, “Geranium — apple branches” (left); “Ginger — wood” (right)

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Minh Häusler, “Swan Lake: Papaver orientale”

Minh Häusler, “Flexi grass — Celosia cristata”

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Minh Häusler, “Gloriosa superba — apple branches”

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Minh Häusler, “Abandoned honeycomb with Belamcanda chinensis seeds”

Minh Häusler: The Fusion of Flora and Art is published by Hirmer Verlag and is available from theUniversity of Chicago Press, Amazon, and other online booksellers.

floraHirmer VerlagikebanaMinh Hauslerphotography