2026Q1+ Wrap
2026 Q1+ Wrap: January to April
Visual version available: Instagram
Index:
๐ญ Fragments
(published field notes not shared on Instagram; full post linked via "...")
18 Apr: The power of words
Language shapes how I create. Calling them "ingredients" kept me in scarcity mode. Calling them "materials" opened up possibilities, room for exploration, creative flow, and trust in the process. (...)
27 Feb: Inversion as teacher & seeing without colour
I noticed a pull toward colour-inverting my images, and realised it wasn't purely just for style, but for clarity too. It helps me see lines, textures, and form - stripped of colour's distraction. Interestingly, this was also how I further developed my sense for photography when I was 11. (...)
05-07 Mar: Practice Field Notes #2 (a backlog)
Material study: the lilies bloomed beautifully, the form of dried pandan leaves pleased me (although am not a fan of the fragrance due to childhood taxi rides with motion sickness), chives disappointed, deep purple orchids were beautiful in colour but challenging to work with, and matricaria charmed me until the smell of the leaves didn't. (...)
06 Apr: Clear glass vessels
I bought them for its simple aesthetic and ease of cleaning / maintenance. It wasn't until someone pointed out on-the-job at the studio that I realised its most practical purpose: monitoring water condition at a glance. (...)
11 Apr: On writing, to learn
I couldn't find the kind of reflective, long-form making-notes I wanted to learn from others. Now, deep in this work itself, I understand why so. This work takes everything - physically, mentally, creatively. Sometimes doing is the learning and that is enough, with time and practice. (...)
โจ Sparks
(celebrating milestones, big and small wins; actions, tasks, decisions made)
๐ Ordered materials online for the first time, for home practice
๐ชท Made a table centrepiece at home
๐ฑ Made one big vase centrepiece at work which was like the hugest I've ever worked with
๐งบ Conditioning/housekeeping the cold room for the first time ever all by myself (and iterating process week by week)
๐ Scribbles
(notes on materials I met and worked with)
Body sensitivity = extra precautions I'll have to take next time
- Mattiola: skin & respiratory โ itchy hands and that faint burning lungs sensation
- Floral foam: skin & respiratory โ lungs feel inflamed and irritated skin contact
- Lilies, any variety in general: respiratory โ faint heaty body sensation
Favourites / highlights
- Didiscus: Even though cleanup can get messy towards the end of their life cycle, I'm so drawn to how airy, dainty, light they look. Great energy.
- Nymphea Water Lily: Has a subtle comforting scent, which reminded me of my favourite Rituals hair/pillow mist Ritual of Jing - my heart sank though when the stems started to wilt.
- Sweet Peas: They have a very sweet energy when I touched them, be it freshly cut or almost dying, so I can see why they're called sweet pea (even if it's not the original intention of whoever named them... maybe this is something Iโll research into).
- Micro Pea Tendrils: Organically unruly, unconventional, and visually pleasing.
- Local Chinese Celery: Kenzan-friendly, and beautiful as is. Very unassuming and underrated, in my opinion.