Nisa arranged heliconia as a tribute to her grandfather
A live September installation of Heliconia and Birds of Paradise, made in memory of a grandfather who painted the flowers he grew.
Khairunnisa (Nisa), Malaysia · Words by Flower Club International · 23 September 2026
Instagram: @floyunnBased in Malaysia, Khairunnisa Zulkifli (Nisa) works with flowers and Ikebana, and shares her arrangements on Instagram as @floyunn.
How did your relationship with flowers begin?
I initially started caring for indoor plants first and was slightly scared to deal with flowers since they felt fragile to me. Then I explored Ikebana and it formed a deeper appreciation towards flowers. Flowers also taught me to slow down in life.
When did you discover Ikebana?
In 2023, I explored and researched about Ikebana and fell in love with its simplicity but yet powerful force.
Tell us about the installation.
In September, I exhibited a live installation under an art exhibition. It was a tribute to my late grandfather who loves to paint Heliconia, or in Bahasa Melayu ‘Sepit Udang’.
Which materials did you use?
I combined Heliconia Psittacorum and Birds of Paradise for a beautiful variety since my late grandfather used to plant them around his house. I used a pot/ ceramic from Bendang Studio. And coincidentally, both my late grandfather and Bendang Studio are from Melaka (a state in Malaysia).
What did the arrangement portray?
My arrangement was to portray how my late grandfather is as a person – neat, colourful, disciplined and is good to many people. I used this chance to combine artworks, of his paintings and my Ikebana arrangement.
How do sketches shape your process?
I like to sketch but my arrangements never become exactly how I sketch it. It makes me giggle at the outcome, because the flowers and leaves take me where they want to be. So, I appreciated that. To go with the flow.
What have flowers taught you?
To live in the present.
What gave you confidence?
I found this quote a few years back which gave me a lot of confidence.
“your art is not about how many people like your work”
— Rupi Kaur
“Flowers and leaves take me where they want to be.”
Images courtesy of Khairunnisa.