On 20 May 2023, GLUE Studio debuted its first flower photography workshop focussing on mindfulness and sustainability at Missionworks in Hammersmith, London, UK.
The workshop, Still life photography with seasonal flowers and upcycled containers, was led by GLUE Studio’s creative director Zarina Holmes. She’s also the artist and author of After The Rain, the print and digital publication published by GLUE Studio’s imprint Story Of Books.
The workshop took place ahead of the London flower festival season, which runs from May until June, and the Chelsea Flower Show, which is taking place between 22 and 27 May 2023.
At the workshop, participants were asked to spontaneously experiment with different flower arrangement styles – both Eastern and Western – whilst applying the concepts of wabi-sabi (imperfect beauty) and mujo (impermanence) to transform props such as the upcycled glass and metal containers into inspiring works of art.
The workshop is an expansion of GLUE Studio’s exploration on sustainable product design – as showcased via the studio’s low-impact design shop, which was launched in 2021. These initiatives were the results of an earlier exploration on wastes and pollution in the UK and Malaysian waterways, showcased by GLUE Studio at an HF Artsfest event in June 2019, River to river, coast to coast. The 2019 event was held at Re:Centre in Hammersmith, London, UK.
GLUE Studio is open to work as a creative partner for sustainability projects, workshops and event curation. For more details, contact GLUE Studio.
What is Mindful Photography?
Mindful photography is an exercise that invites a photographer to focus on the present moment, slow down and pay attention to the details of the environment. It can help the participants develop a deeper connection with nature, practice mindfulness and meditation through photography. It also allows them to express their creativity and artistic visions while capturing the beauty of the natural world.
The workshop encourages the participants to contemplate on sustainability. The aim isn’t to achieve slick results, but instead celebrating the imperfections, impermanence and appreciating the beauty in natural decay.
More about Mindful Photography Workshops
About Zarina Holmes:
Zarina is a photographer and educator, specialising in lifestyle and nature subjects. She’s led photography workshops for organisations such as City Academy UK, Apricity London, The British Council and Warna Workshops. She’s also co-founder of award-winning GLUE Studio, a creative agency based in London, UK. Her photobooks on meditative photography, After The Rain Number 1 & 2, were selected for the Malaysian Photobook Exhibition 2022 and included in the Malaysian Photobook Archive. Zarina enjoys gardening. She is currently studying ikebana, the Japanese art of flower arrangement.
Articles on Mindful Photography
After The Rain 