Plants by Claudia
About
Claudia Gorringe
Hi, my name is Claudia, and I would like to tell you a little about my background as well as ArtiZen.
I was born and educated in Germany where I studied photography and design before coming to New Zealand in the mid-eighties. In 1992 I started a successful Topiary business called Standards of Excellence which was the forerunner to ArtiZen. I grew most of the classical shapes, from pretty flowering standards to substantial 2m conifer spirals, doing all the clipping myself.
Even during the first few years of developing my topiary business, it became clear to me that Japanese influenced plant training techniques were the most interesting and challenging work for me to do. So, the classical topiary became the bread-and-butter business and the artistic plant sculptures were more like a self-indulgent sideline.
That all changed when I made the decision in 2015 to stop making hundreds of cuttings every year and to gradually sell out of my expansive stock of classical shapes.
Today, ArtiZen is a boutique business that gives you plant sculptures of distinction, grown with passion and admiration for the ancient art of Niwaki.
Standards of Excellence – Juniper spirals
East-meets-West
Andrew Gorringe
I could not have developed a thriving plant business without the help and support of my husband Andrew. Andrew built windbreaks, nursery beds and propagating houses; he lent his muscles and brains to create landscape exhibits and carried many a heavy plant – all in his ‘spare’ time. Andrew is the busiest man I know. He loves a challenge and can make things happen. One of Andrew’s favourite sayings is: ‘The road to success is always under construction’.
Andrew posing by exhibit
The busy place of creation
Together we built a spacious nursery, a barn with potting facilities and lots of space for visitor parking and the turning needs of truck and trailer units which now come to collect my plants for nation-wide delivery.
All plants have been cutting-grown on site and are well adjusted to our Katikati growing conditions.
ArtiZen Nursery
ArtiZen potting shed
Inside the nursery
Porsche in dispatch
Inspiration
I have been lucky enough to travel extensively over the years and have visited many gardens, nurseries, shrines, monasteries, and public spaces where Niwaki were grown and treasured. I also studied bonsai techniques through countless books as well as through hands-on tutoring and was lucky enough to spend time with Peter Chan who is a world-renowned bonsai master, based in the UK. I am thankful for all the inspiration and still enjoy seeing plants morph from unassuming shapes into amazing plant sculptures.
Pedestrian crossing – Hong Kong
Chi Lin Nunnery
Japanese garden
Claudia, Hong Kong 2013
Japan 2013