Melanie Stapleton + Katie Marx, Flowering Now

Flowering Now was an ephemeral exhibition of innovative and abundant floral installations, from thirteen Melbourne florists. A personal project initiated by Melanie Stapleton of Cecilia Fox and Katie Marx, the collective show explored the interplay of transience and longevity – radiant blooms were celebrated alongside the process of gentle decay.

This collaborative project brought Melbourne’s flower community together to explore their practice, sharing a love of nature in ways that defy traditional understandings of floristry, and created a space for local florists to experiment with original ideas free from commercial demands.

Pomp + Splendour, Way Of Flowers

Pomp + Splendour were commissioned by local Melbourne fashion label, Obus, to create a series of floral arrangements to complement the colours and style of the Autumn 2018 collection.

Using autumnal seasonal botanicals like emerald beaded amaranths, persimmon fruit, privet berry, rosehips, native firewheel flowers, and crab apples, Pomp + Splendour created four unique pieces to pair with a variety of different outfit combinations. The addition of unusual tropical flowers including bird of paradise, pitcher plants, anthuriums and various orchids added an unexpected contrast to the seasonal Victorian botanicals. Delightful drama, depth and playfulness!

BESS, Wildflower Trollies

Utilising discarded trollies as a frame for a deconstructed flower stall, this project by NSW florist BESS makes use of found objects to create a portable base for long-lasting and dried Australian native wildflowers. The paper daisies, kangaroo paw, grasses and blueberry ash all came from the entrant’s family’s Australian native wildflower farm at Mangrove Mountain, New South Wales.

Candy MT, Marigold Motel

Locally grown flowers were used to create an intimate yet expansive installation for a wedding in Bali – as a surprise for the bride and groom! While floral materials were limited in Bali, Candy MT used varieties that would be locally available, and not imported. 250kg of marigolds and 150kg of petals were treated almost like sand, created dunes that engulfed and flowed through the other plants. An added degree of difficulty was the fact that all this had to be created internationally with no connections, personal transport or language!

Soil, Hattie Molloy

Soil is a conceptual installation in the floral artist’s shopfront to create an evolving sculptural form that is also a living, growing organism. A self-initiated project, Soil is comprised of three cubic metres of soil in Hattie’s Collingwood shop, with a single white plinth rising out of the earth to display one of her signature artistic arrangements. Hattie sprinkled clover seeds through the soil so that sprouts starting peeking out over the course of the installation. Soil was designed to push the boundaries of how people perceive floristry.

Tweed Twigs, A Study Of Beauty

Making a statement about an ongoing societal obsession with beauty and size, a diverse group of women are adorned with floral headpieces that represent strength and vulnerability. Tweed Twigs created floral designs that reflected each woman, observing and exploring floral forms that defied the norm.

Good Grace & Humour, Lotus Leaf Lamp

An elegant, self-supported installation of dried lotus leaves and dried hydrangea by Good Grace & Humour, designed as a counterpart to glitzy display for a group of celebrants who provide an alternative wedding experience. Lotus Leaf Lamp was created in contrast to the rest of the stage decoration, which included draping metallic tinsel, neon signs and hanging lights, providing a strong, calm presence and focal point.

Interflora is the proud sponsor of the TDF Design Awards Floral Design Category. To check out the local Interflora florists near you, click here!