Over the past few years many of our favourite florists and floral artists have been incorporating more found objects, repurposed and reused items and varieties of natural objects into their designs. Whether their primary motivation is due to a commitment to sustainability or good design (or both), we could argue that Ikebana (long distinguished from ‘Western’ floral art by its use of wood, dried plants and found objects as well as fresh flowers and plant materials) was well before its time when it began 500 years ago.

The Melbourne Chapter of Ikebana International had a stunning exhibition at one of our favourite places on the weekend, Gasworks Arts Park.

It was a rare opportunity to view works by leading exponents of what is a very specialised and precise art form whose modern forms (according to Gasworks’ website), ‘reflect both the simplicity and the complexity of nature’.