Masako Art & Flowers is a beautiful little gallery situated just off the canal in Castlefields. It is both an art gallery and a florist.
Masako is a Japanese artist who moved to the UK in 2005 after studying as a nurse, and then as a flower arranger! She then met Phillipe Aird, a Manchester based contemporary artist whose art is on display in the studio next door, and set up shop in Castlefield.
On her website she writes that flower arranging and painting are complimentary activities, each providing ideas for the other and allowing her to transpose shape, colour, texture and design between the two areas. Sounds a bit mad, but once you've been to the little gallery, you'll have to agree!
She still operates as a (relatively) normal florist with some beautiful flowers available. She offers floral designs for homes and office, and table arrangements for parties. There's a few quirky differences as well, such as the option to take along your own vase, and have it filled with flowers that suit it!!
I must say I'm not a huge fan of flower arranging, I just don't seem to be affected by the subtle differences produced by getting the perfect ratio of sprig to chrysanthemum, so for me it's the paintings that really make this place great. I used my detective skills to trace the flower influence, by noticing that the paintings are all of flowers.
They are all beautiful designs pained with bright but natural colours, and often outlined with very thick gold, silver or bronze paint, giving them a deep three dimensional texture. Have a look through the photos and see what you think. It's a pleasant walk along the canal to the gallery anyway and you can always stop at the picturesque Dukes 92 along the way, so you've nothing to lose by baying Masako a visit. read more