Flower Power

First Published in Hong Kong Fashion Geek on 17 March 2011.

Arts and culture guest blogger hkCultureGeek, Gillian Chu, is a Hong Kong raised Canadian who enjoys exploring the secret cultural spots around town. You can contact her at hkCultureGeek@hkFashionGeek.com.

Last year I stumbled into the Hong Kong Flower Fair 2010 on its very last hour, saw absolutely nothing, and brought home gazillion pots of orchids for $10. This year I am determined to take a look at what they have to offer before they start dumping the exhibits out.

The theme of this year's show is Symphony of Spring Flowers, and all the exhibitors seem to have taken it rather literally. I saw countless harps, pianos, and cellos throughout the show. I find it rather curious though, as harp doesn't seem like the obvious choice of instruments. I do wonder how that mannequin found herself standing next to the harp while playing it, instead of sitting down with the harp resting on her shoulder.

Of course there is Sogetsu, a rather famous school of flower arrangement. However, I am more intrigued by the Ikenobo school's exhibits. They are famous for having a narrow base and branching out at the top, creating a luring curvature. While schools of flower arrangement are mainly based on Japanese or European, I would have thought Japanese flower arrangement origin should have came from China, so why doesn't the Chinese have their own unique styles of arrangement?

This quirky mosquito looking piece reminds me of the interesting figurines that Miss Fong in Hong Kong makes.

They also had flowers displayed inside scrolls and frames as a part of a painting.

Of course they had the conventional bonsai and garden arrangements.

Obviously they sell flowers, but they also have everything from organic vegetables to herbal seeds. I am sure they have something for all kinds of shopaholics.

The show ends on Sunday, so go quickly and check it out!