Installation views | Kunstraum Kreuzlingen | 2016

Flower Power

Serial Project | Installations

Material: various kinds of flowers | pedestals | fact sheets

This series consists of flower arrangements recreated according to the press photos of state receptions or important meetings of political leaders on live issues. The meanings of the flowers were then decoded by the Victorian Flower Language Dictionary. In German there is a saying: »Etwas durch die Blume sagen«, to speak through the flower, which means to criticise or to express an opinion in a roundabout way.

The titles of the individual works match the press picture captions. Title, press picture and Victorian flower language translations are present on fact sheets and displayed in the exhibition space. The compositions of these individual works are of a subject nature and refer to current political events.

dignity & loyality

1.1  – «Tory whip Brooks Newmark (right) spent three hours on Sunday with President Bashar al-Assad (left) who has been bla- med for authorising the deaths of hundreds of pro-democracy protesters» June 27, 2011 | Damascus

Bouquet: Pink lilys and ivy

I admire you..

1.2 – «Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (l) shakes hands with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (r) as U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton looks on as time is ticking for Israel-Palestinian peace.» September 2, 2010 | State Department in Washington

Bouquet: Eustoma, salmon pink roses, pittosporum, white hydrangea
Meaning: I admire you..

honesty and modesty

1.3.1 – «German Cancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) and ukrainian president Petro Poroschenko during their discussion about the "Marshall Plan" for Ukraine.» June 6, 2014 | Presidential palace in Kiew

Bouquet: Hydrangea, peachy roses, ivy, salal
Meaning: Honesty and modesty

death and blamelessness

1.3.2 – «President Vladimir Putin of Russia meets with Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany during their meeting in the Barriere Normandy Hotel on June 6, 2014 in Deauville, France. Putin takes part in the celebrations of 70th anniversary the Normandy Landings, also known as "D-day". Merkel and Putin negotiate to trade Crimea’s sovereignty for guarantees on energy security and trade.» August 23, 2014 | Barriere Normandy Hotel, Deauville, France

Bouquet: White chrysanthemum, pink bellis perennis, hydrangea, ivy, salal
Meaning: death and blamelessness

honor, grandeur and cheerfullness in the midst of adversity

1.4 – «Chinese President Hu Jintao (3rd r) meets with Doris Leuthard (1st l), president of the Swiss Confederation and head of the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, to start FTA (Federal Tax Administration) talks.» August 13, 2010 | The Great Hall of People in Beijing, China

Bouquet: Pink chrysanthemum, gerbera, lillys, red anthurium, aralia, salal, monkeyweed
Meaning: Honor, grandeur and cheerfullness in the midst of adversity