Flower exhibition honors retiring teacher
Im Hwa-kong, second from right, joins members of the Garden Club during an exhibition at Raemian Gallery in Seoul, Friday. / Korea Times photo by Kim Se-jeong
By Kim Se-jeong
Garden Club of Seoul without Im Hwa-kong is like a clock without hands. A floral designer, Im was one of the founding members, and nurtured it for almost 60 years.
A flower arrangement class given to the spouses was one of her flagship activities.
Last year, Im, 91, decided to retire because she was getting old and had moved into an apartment that was too small for classes. She gave her last class in October last year.
Last Friday, her students put together a flower exhibition to honor her.
At the Raemian Gallery in Anguk-dong, Seoul, 13 spouses of ambassadors from Brunei, Indonesia, Canada, Finland, Singapore, Austria, Iraq, Norway, Ireland, U.K. Turkey, Kuwait and Japan presented their flower installations for a three-hour long show. Im presented two of her works as well.
“This is a way to thank Im who has taught us. She is great,” said Gulden Saribas, wife of the Turkish ambassador who leads the club.
The club has 36 members, 20 of whom are spouses of foreign diplomats in Seoul.
Im was effusive in thanking members. “I never imagined the members putting together an exhibition just for me. I sincerely want to thank each and every one of them.”
Im dedicated her life to floral design.
She received a professional training during the Japanese colonization.
During former President Park Chung-hee’s rule, she took care of floral design for Cheong Wa Dae. She met President Park Geun-hye when she was a young girl, and they still stay in touch.
Saribas says Im’s absence is certainly a big loss, but the group will continue with new projects to stay connected and to be creative.
The club is currently making postcards of national flowers, with a plan to sell them at bazaars later this year.