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Aesthetics in its root

With the right tricks, twigs can be `made into' driftwood

Rekha Bayanker showcases her art

Weathered by the natural elements, driftwood often has aesthetic curves, lending itself for floral arrangements as well as stand-alone pieces of art.

Rekha Bayanker, Founder Secretary Ikebana International, Hyderabad Chapter (IIHYD) has more than a decade of experience working with driftwood and look a-likes. At the monthly IIHYD meet, she shared some tips on making and preserving dead wood to resemble driftwood. In her talk to fellow members called "Reincarnation"- (dead wood being given life once again), she said, "driftwood is hard to come by in a place like Hyderabad so over the years I have developed my own techniques that can make any piece of dead wood resemble driftwood and these can be effectively incorporated in free style Ikebana arrangements."

An interesting branch, trunk or root can be submerged in water for a few days and sun dried after removal of loose outer bark. With a little sand papering and a light coat of varnish to keep out termites, you have a new accessory to play with. If intended to be kept directly on the soil, a lining of lime (chuna) or tar at the base is required. Hardy woods like teak, neem, mango, chikoo, bougainvillea and even guava make good driftwood imitations. "Driftwood is used in many schools of Ikebana and adds to the aesthetics of an arrangement with minimal polish and colour," said Remani Nambiar, President IIHYD who inaugurated Rekha's display.

So don't wait to go on a vacation or shell out a fortune for designer driftwood art, with an observant eye you are sure to find some in your vicinity and better still it can have your own unique stamp of individuality.

PADMINI B. PATELL

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