FRESH and DRY MATERIAL

On Wednesday Laurie and I went west along the coast to Qdos Gallery in Lorne. Graeme Wilkie was setting up a solo exhibition of some of his work from the last several years. This included ceramics from his recent residencies in China and wood-fired work made in his Anagama Kiln. He had asked me to create a single ikebana in one of the large sculptural ceramic pieces in that part of the exhibition. Graeme's slab constructed work is about 1.4m tall with an elongated S-shape and is very narrow front to back. 

I did not have the opportunity of a trial run. So, I made sure that I had materials for plan B. Plan A was to use an interesting piece of driftwood with three radiating branches. I soon realised that it was both too heavy and too large in diameter to be safely stabilised in the tall, narrow ceramic work. My plan B material was three very light, broad and spiralling pieces of dried Banana plant Musa, and three fresh Gymea leaves Doryanthes palmeri.

Here Laurie, acting as my assistant, is holding two Gymea leaves in position while I check their relationship with the Banana material. I had already secured the dried material by attaching it to a long garden stake that I placed within the vessel.

This shows the completed ikebana in the vessel, which was supported with bags of clay to stabilise the structure while we worked on the improvised design and fixed the materials in place.

This shows the finished work on the day of the Exhibition opening, which was yesterday. I have taken the photo with a flash to reveal the beautiful surface of the vessel in particular. Some rather rusty-looking markings are also noticeable on the Gymea leaf that points downward to the left across the front of the ikebana.

This photo shows the back of the vessel and me looking pleased that everything was still in place three days after setting up this work. I must say that I feel very privileged to be able to present my ikebana in this beautiful gallery, and that Graeme had trusted me to be respectful of his work.

Graeme's exhibition is open for three weeks.

Thursday - Sunday

9.00 am - 5.00 pm 

Finishes Friday 12th December

Greetings from Christopher

23rd November 2025