Blossoms and Shadows – Seven ways of seeing cut flowers
19.07.2016
by Orsolya Földesi
Supervisor: Dr. Salma Monani
Once a status symbol and a privilege of the richest, cut flowers have become just another consumer commodity which we can buy in a supermarket. They are part of our everydays, yet we make little thought about where they come from, how they are produced and transported, what impact they have on the environment, and, ultimately, why we buy them at all.
In this exhibition, I present seven possible ways of seeing cut flowers. Some highlight the joy and beauty they bring to our homes and lives, while others see only the profit-generating commodity in them. Through the different perspectives, we can get a more colorful picture of cut flowers themselves and of the real price of their beauty.
My aim is not only to bring into discussion cut flowers and the floriculture industry, but also to highlight the underlying controversies behind everyday decisions. I firmly believe that the small individual choices we make have a large aggregate effect on our systems. Expanding our perspectives and collecting information can, therefore, allow us to make a positive impact on the environment and society.