Iron Fine Arts and Art Installation Design · 2021
Memories of Rose and Journey of the Blue Space Decoration
by Oyu
- A' Design Award 2021 Iron Winner in Fine Arts and Art Installation Design
- Awarded April 15, 2021
- CLIENT: Oyu
- Estimated Number of Design Views: 10,183
- Verification code A0B18457E6 · Verify this award
About Memories of Rose and Journey of the Blue Space Decoration
This work is inspired by the love story behind the portrait "Marthe de Florian", a work by Giovanni Bellini. The rose-colored arrangement represents her as an actress who lived in Paris during the glamorous pre-war era. The rose represents love. The blue one, on the other hand, represents the strength of a woman wandering through the whirlpool of war, but never despairing and praying for the dawn. The two large curved flowers represent the path to be taken, and the dried blue plant is called the "traveler's tree" and symbolizes the changing times.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- The work is based on "Ikebana" (Japanese Flower Arrangement), using various materials to express the image of Giovanni's paint.
The rose colored vase and flowers show Florian's muslin pink dress as well as the image of the era. A protrusion to the upper left painted white, is a dry plant and meant to symbolize Giovanni's passionate hands. You can see a crystal pearl hanging from it, signifying Florian's tears with emotion. The other piece in blue shows contrasting emotions of despair of war. - Dimensions & Packaging
- Width 600mm x Depth 200mm x Height 550mm
- Tags
- Artistic Decor, Fine Arts, Space Decorations, Flower, Art, Interior Decorations
- Production Technology
- Composition by Adhesion with Dried Flowers, Artificial Flowers, Glass Vase, Pearl, Metal Chain, Acrylic Board and Metal Wire.
- Design Challenge
- Mixing various materials and make one piece of art work.
- Project Duration
- The project started in April 2016 in Tokyo and was exhibited in Flower Art Award In Tokyo Midtown in April 2017
- Operation Flow
- Display Tips: 1.Overall coloration may fade overtime, therefore avoidance of the direct sun light is advisable.
2. You can arrange them side by side as shown in the photo. Depending on the space available, you may place them apart from each other. It might be interesting to display it with each facing away from the other, back to back in a place like a museum where the audience flow can be dictated. Such flow must allow viewing "La Memoire De La Rose" first , followed by "La Voyage de Bleu". - Research
- Researched Italian Impressionism through website and came across the painting of Giovanni Bellini. Impressed by the story behind the art
- Inspiration
- The inspiration for this art work, consisting of two pieces, comes from the story behind the painting, "Portrait of Marthe de Florian" by Italian painter Giovanni Boldini. The painting had been sleeping for 70 years until it was discovered at Florian's apartment in Paris. This work is an homage to the beautiful memories of Giovanni and his lover Florian. "La Memoire De La Rose " (left) depicts the story of her elegant life in Paris. "La Voyage Bleu" (right) is the image of her life after the war. She lived with dignity.
- Image Credits
- Image #1: Photographer Endo Yoko, Memories of Rose, 2020.
Image #2: Photographer Endo Yoko, Memories of Rose, 2020.
Image #3: Photographer Endo Yoko, Memories of Rose, 2020.
Image #4: Photographer Endo Yoko, Memories of Rose, 2020.
Profile Photography, Masahiro Ikarashi, Hana Makeup, 2017.
Colors of Memories of Rose and Journey of the Blue Space Decoration
Grand Interview about Memories of Rose and Journey of the Blue Space Decoration
“Memories of Rose” was created for a flower art competition held in Tokyo in 2016, where the theme was Impressionism.While researching Impressionist art, I became deeply fascinated by the portrait of Marthe de Florian. What amazed me was that it evoked almost the same impression as one of my own floral works that I had previously created for another competition. I was astonished that a European painting created centuries ago and a contemporary floral artwork could resonate so naturally across time and culture.As I continued my research, I discovered the tragic yet passionate love story behind the artist and his model. I was deeply moved and wanted to reinterpret their story through floral art, allowing it to live again in the present. That desire became the foundation of “Memories of Rose.”In 2017, I had another opportunity to participate in the same competition, this time under the theme of Paris. I created a companion piece, “Journey of the Blue,” portraying Florian’s strength and hope as she endured the hardships of war, in contrast to the elegance and prosperity represented in “Memories of Rose.” This work received the Audience Award.Because the two works were exhibited in different years, they were never presented together as a single narrative. They remained in my gallery studio for several years until, in 2020, I received an invitation to participate in the A’ Design Award. It finally gave me the opportunity to present them as a pair, allowing Florian’s story to be experienced as one complete journey.
The contrasting color palettes of “Memories of Rose” and “Journey of the Blue” were carefully chosen to represent two very different chapters in Florian’s life.In “Memories of Rose,” I portrayed the joyful and elegant years she spent in Paris before the war. Rose pink symbolizes love, beauty, and the glamour of that era. It is also the color of the dress Florian wears in her portrait. I adopted this color as a visual symbol of her presence and the beautiful memories she left behind.In contrast, “Journey of the Blue” reflects the period in which her destiny was transformed by war. Blue symbolizes sorrow, loneliness, and uncertainty. However, my intention was not to portray sadness alone. I also wanted to express Florian’s determination to continue living with strength despite those hardships. I conveyed this through the graceful yet powerful lines of the calla lilies, whose resilient forms became a metaphor for her unwavering spirit.Although the two works are built upon contrasting color palettes, I do not see them as opposites. Together, they represent different moments in the life of one woman.Every life contains both happiness and suffering, light and shadow. Through these two works, I hoped to express not only Florian’s journey, but also the universal emotional experiences shared by us all.
Ikebana reveals beauty by removing everything unnecessary and allowing ma—the uniquely Japanese aesthetic of meaningful space—to emerge. Western flower arrangement, on the other hand, creates rich expression and storytelling by layering flowers, colors, and decorative elements.My concept of SOUSAKU IKEBANA (Creative Living Flower) does not choose one over the other.Instead, I describe it as “the aesthetics of multiplication.”By multiplying the Eastern aesthetics of subtraction with the Western aesthetics of addition, I believe new forms of ma and narrative can emerge.In both “Memories of Rose” and “Journey of the Blue,” every flower, color, line, empty space, and spatial relationship exists to tell the story. My hope is that viewers will not simply observe the work, but experience the narrative unfolding within the space.
When I first saw Florian’s portrait, the two elements that impressed me most were her rose-colored dress and her pearl necklace. To me, they symbolized the elegance and happiness of the life she once enjoyed.I wanted to incorporate the pearl into my artwork, but rather than recreating it as a necklace, I chose to express it as a single suspended crystal pearl.That single pearl symbolizes Florian’s tear. At the same time, it marks the end of her joyful life and foreshadows the sorrowful chapter that unfolds in “Journey of the Blue.” It serves as a quiet bridge connecting the two works into one continuous narrative.For me, that single tear is not only a symbol of sorrow. It also represents Florian’s strength—the courage to carry the memories of love while continuing her journey into the future.
The title “Journey of the Blue” represents Florian’s journey toward a new life, even as she carries the sadness of her past. To express that idea, I chose the traveler’s tree as one of the central botanical elements.What attracted me was not only its name, but also its beautiful blue-green coloration. It harmonizes with the overall atmosphere of the work and reinforces the meaning behind the title, “Journey of the Blue.”The traveler’s tree is also a dried botanical material. As time passes, its color gradually changes through the natural aging process. I find this transformation deeply meaningful, as it quietly reflects the passage of time and the changing chapters of Florian’s life.To me, the traveler’s tree is far more than a botanical element. It symbolizes the determination to keep moving forward while embracing the passage of time.Through this work, I wanted to express not only Florian’s journey, but also a message of hope for everyone traveling through life’s own journey.
The dimensions of these works were originally determined by the exhibition environment of the Tokyo Midtown Flower Art Competition in 2016 and 2017. Each piece was displayed inside a showcase built into a pillar, so I carefully designed the scale to fit that architectural space while creating the strongest visual impact.Within this limited exhibition space, I wanted viewers to naturally move closer and discover the details of each botanical element, allowing the narrative to unfold gradually through careful observation.After the competition, I placed the works in acrylic display cases so they could also be exhibited in my own gallery studio. The acrylic case not only protects the artwork, but also creates a self-contained world that preserves its story.I hope these works can continue telling their story not only in exhibition venues, but also as quiet artistic presences within everyday living spaces.
Through many years of working in color studies and design education, I have come to believe that harmony is not achieved by using identical materials, but by allowing the unique character of each material to contribute to a unified artistic vision.For me, the important question is not whether a flower is fresh or artificial.What truly matters is the role each material plays and how it contributes to telling the story.In “Memories of Rose” and “Journey of the Blue,” I combined dried botanical materials, artificial flowers, crystal, and other materials with contrasting textures. Each element complements the others, together weaving a single narrative.To me, both color and material are languages for telling a story. Only when every element exists in harmony does a work truly come to life.
I designed these two works to be experienced as a single continuous story.For this reason, “Memories of Rose” is normally placed on the left, while “Journey of the Blue” is displayed on the right.Because viewers naturally tend to move their gaze from left to right, they are guided through Florian’s life—from the elegance and happiness of her early years, through sorrow, and toward the hope of a new beginning. The physical arrangement allows the narrative to unfold in a natural sequence.Although each work can stand independently, the complete story emerges only when the two are displayed together.I hope visitors will do more than simply view the artworks. I hope they will immerse themselves in the story as they move through the space.
Through this work, I hope to express more than beauty and sorrow alone.Everyone experiences moments of joy and sadness, encounters and farewells. Together, these moments shape each person’s unique story.Florian’s life was one such story.I hope viewers will see reflections of their own lives in hers and come to feel that every experience—whether joyful or painful—has been a meaningful part of the journey toward the future.If this work can offer even one person the courage or hope to take a single step forward, that would be the greatest reward for me as an artist.
Through SOUSAKU IKEBANA (Creative Living Flower), I hope to present floral art as a new form of contemporary art and share its possibilities with the world.My work is not intended simply to preserve Japanese tradition. Rather, I seek to create new artistic value by respecting and connecting the aesthetics of both Eastern and Western cultures.Collaboration with traditional Japanese artisans is also an essential part of my creative practice. I believe that when different skills, cultures, and artistic perspectives come together, they can create something that no individual could achieve alone.Although cultures may differ, the stories and emotions that move people are universal.Through SOUSAKU IKEBANA, I hope to continue creating works that serve as bridges between people, cultures, tradition, and the future.