|
Prasad Abu Bakr
|
This arrangement shows many of our local flowers, ferns and wild
shrubs put to good use. |
It was an evening of flowers organised by Shi-en Ikebana & Floral Art
Society of Sri Lanka at the Bishop’s College Auditorium where a large
part of Colombo’s patrons of such events gathered to witness floral
designer Derek Armstrong in action.
A treat it was to watch this wonderfully talented man at work quite
effortlessly indulging in his art. Flowers to Armstrong looked more than
a fascination, it appeared to be a major part of his life.
His familiarity with the subject proved to the audience that what
ever he was going on chattering about his work was not merely ‘mumbling’
flowery words. Armstrong kept a steady narration going on, non stop,
which, to anyone in the audience looked the most arduous task where
concentration was concerned.
Even though the visiting floral designer tried his best to convert
that chatter in to some kind of dialogue with his audience it seemed as
if he failed quite badly as it was a full house of spectators who were
more keen on stealing a few tricks of the trade rather than carry-on an
on-the-spot conversation with him. But he kept his chatter going on
continuously at a pace nevertheless.
|
Floral designer Derek Armstrong stressing a point.
Pictures by Ruwan de Silva |
|
This tall arrangement had small battery-operated bulbs concealed
within pieces of broken glass that were immersed in the water of
the vase beneath the floral arrangement. |
But what was evident is that there were no tricks to steal, it was
all, if one can describe in plain words, a remarkable gift to Armstrong
and when one observe him working it is how he has honed the edges of his
trade by practicing it like a devout religious devotee.
What was remarkable in his arrangements, at least the ones that he
set-up on that day, were his attention to detail to make his
arrangements into three dimensional projections, not merely something to
set against a wall; he constantly kept looking at his creations from all
angles and that’s besides his ability to compose colour within his
creations which is purely laudable.
Derek Armstrong who had actually initially trained as a chef
eventually turned out to become a career florist in Carlisle, U.K. where
he presently works and has remained so for over thirty years.
His many descriptions take the listener, who actually first comes in
as a viewer, to his exciting world of many challenges during his various
performances mostly in that part of the world.
His visit to Sri Lanka according to him is his first; he revealed the
fact that he was amazed at the variety of flowers which were put at his
disposal during this visit and the manner in which he used them to
create some eye catching arrangements to please his audience met with
unreserved applause.
Though living permanently in the United Kingdom, Armstrong has been
travelling and working in many parts of the world, mostly in Japan,
U.S.A, Ireland in addition to travelling all over in his home country.
|
American ambassador to Sri Lanka, Robert O. Blake who graced the
occasion as the chief guest seen seated flanked by members of
the Shi-en Ikebana Society of Sri Lanka and other guests. |
This year Armstrong will travel to work in Frankfurt in Germany and
to Memphis and Tennessee in the U.S.A. He was once amongst a handful of
honoured demonstrators at the WAFA (World Association of Flower
Arrangers) show in Glasgow where he was applauded for creating a
stunning presentation at Harrogate International Centre in 2007.
According to him it gave him an opportunity to ‘fly’ during his
demonstration using a harness and wires which saw him executing his
arrangement while suspending in air.
The language of flowers, as we are all made to believe is mostly used
to make statements of love and in loss, an expression of sadness. For
this amazing floral designer too it may have meant the same... “An
expression of feeling”. But when he is on the job he makes more out of
them than the plain gesture of giving. He makes statements, in fact it
is more a theatrical exercise.
The gesture of his hands and the tone of his voice which is
controlled to dramatise his expressions made one more than a spectator
at Derek Armstrong’s (‘demonstration’ is quite unfitting a word)
performance.
Armstrong’s arrangements varied from happy, luscious to calm and
simply striking. One arrangement meant for a table centrepiece using a
mix of white flowers, tender palm leaves and candles was one such
outstanding presentation. His creative exercise which altogether was
summed up in three hours was well worth the while in anybody’s time -
both professional or amateur florists or plain lovers of flowers and
drama. |
