practical research

  • documentation of ideas and brainstorms

  • diary of growth

  • practical forms of research !

From Seed to Bloom

february-planting

As a practical exploration into growth and nurture, I planted seeds to COSMOS flowers in an egg box - a good way to recycle the carton and a cheap way to house the seeds! I added some compost to the box, followed by the seeds (which I got from the Nunhead Gardener), and more compost on top.

COSMOS are best planted between February and April, then typically coming to bloom around June.

Through the next few months, I will be documenting their growth, as roots start to form, then stems, eventually flowering around May/June, when my project will come to a close.

THE LIFE CYCLE OF A DAFFODIL

tracked daily, from bud, to bloom, to death

Using photographs of flowers from my personal camera roll, quotes from my inspirations, and illustrations of flowers found on Pinterest. I was heavily inspired by Sheila Ghelani’s workshop teaching us to consider the ties between word and image, and investigating/researching/asking questions of objects.

Through the exploration of materials, and creating work out of paper, I played with aesthetic dimensions as inspired by Linder’s photomontages.

collage

Preservation

How can we pause time?

Can we manipulate the temporality of flowers?

 

THE NUNHEAD GARDENER

visited the Nunhead Gardener to explore their range of plants + seeds! bought some poppy seeds to plant 💐

 

getty center

visited the Getty Center, and Robert Irwin’s Central Garden - an intricately designed oasis situated in the hills of Los Angeles, overlooking the city.

locations + visits

 

Columbia Road Flower Market

 

new york flower district

@ the getty center

An installation that blends art + nature, the Getty Center’s Central Garden works with shape and considered design, with the focal water-borne flowerbeds (currently in bloom, notably) being laid out in a cyclical maze shape, inaccessible to the public, viewable from semi-circular pathways and viewpoints through the garden.

The space is currently filled with colour - california poppies in orange, pretty pink tulips, dainty violets. The variety of colour and type of flower almost overwhelming, but so well curated.

Given its hilltop perspective, visitors can gaze over the expanse of Los Angeles - the city stretching as far as the eye can see. This burst of nature within the urban so beautiful, the contrast so considered.

What does it mean to be in bloom? How can cities and their manufactured oasis’ converse?

on film

Through my visit to the Central Garden, I recorded clips of the flowers in the breeze, subjected to natural affectation.

Plans:

  • talk to vendors at flower markets

  • create research videos of people talking about their fav flowers, or ones with meanings + memories attached

  • take their photos in B+W

  • create photomontages of them, their flowers, quotes from their interview

interviews

  1. memories of flowers

  2. sentiments

  3. why? even though they are so temporary?

  4. flowers in the city

  5. sources of stems

from workshops

  • persona making - of interviewer

  • site-specific, in conducting research

opposite of La Destruccion - creation, beginnings

interacting with flowers

  • make paper flowers

  • go to a bouquet workshop !

  • growing my own

  • wildflower picking