KARACHI: Ikebana, the creative and artistic hobby launched in Pakistan in 1992 has now attained a level of professional excellence.

This was said by Fatima Surayya Bajia at a certificate award ceremony on Saturday evening.

An Ikebana creation by Sheema Shaikh was spectacular and distinctive expressing vividly all the three dimensions – the heaven, earth and man in her exhibit woven around a circular cane in the centre of which hung three small coconuts shells with offwhite lignum threads wrapped around them by nature. At the top bloomed three violet lilies in full blossom with fresh stamen and red pollen bags, while the halo was formed by colourful aster.

On either side hung a hairy fern as if two delicate hands rested in a lap doing nothing, the entire Ikebana hung by a thread, covered by the petals of the blooms. The structure was so perfectly balanced that swayed to the right and to the left at the slightest whiff of breeze that blew impeccably through the ventilator overhead.

Four other Ikebana – all created by Professor Asifa Ataka were in different styles. All were placed in four different types of containers and added dimension and meaning to the fundamentals of structure, space and naturalism, developed and perfected over the centuries.

Over the years more than 6,000 students and homes in Pakistan. Pakistani Ikebana students can now compete in any international competition. Thirty certificates were awarded in the ceremony to the beaming recipients.

Surayya Bajia congratulated them all and hoped they will continue to improve and practice the art.

Professor Asifa said it was time to establish an Ikenobo Institute in Karachi.—Dr A.A. Quraishy