24th February 2010
Ellerslie floral art exhibit inspired by poem
Christchurch floral designer Marjolein Chow began designing her floral art exhibit for this year’s Ellerslie International Flower Show by writing a poem about her four-year-old daughter Aimée.
“I wrote the poem and then based my whole design around it,” she says.
Trained as a floral designer in Holland, Marjolein was researching the theme for this year’s floral art exhibits – A Moment in Time – on the internet to find out what the theme meant to other people when she was touched by a poem, entitled a Moment in Time Now Gone by a father whose son had died of cancer.
“For most people a moment in time is something quite personal. The poem by the father started me thinking about my own two young daughters, and in particular, my eldest daughter Aimée who will start school this year.
“My exhibit reflects on the moments in time which have now gone with my baby girl having grown up and about to start school.”
Central to the exhibit is a bassinet, made from metal, which will be woven with flax and festooned with feathers, beads, ribbons, chiffon and flowers.
Baby’s clothing, footwear and ABC building blocks will decorate a baby’s room, everything being woven with flax and flowers including roses, anthuriums, calla lilies and succulents, mainly in soft baby-coloured shades of pink, white and turquoise.
The whole exhibit will be framed as if viewing the exhibit through a mirror.
Marjolein, whose business MK Design specialises in floral designs for weddings, events and special occasions, says Ellerslie is her greatest challenge.
“I have already spent numerous hours designing the exhibit and working on the concepts for the various components which keep evolving as I explore different ideas.
“It is exciting to be working on a project that gives you the freedom to experiment with new design ideas while also extending your skills. It is a great challenge.”
Marjolein’s poem which has inspired her design is:
A Moment in Time
If only I could look through a mirror
And see that one moment in time
Seeing my little baby’s room
I remember when she was first born
A moment in time now gone
Having a look at her gorgeous bassinet
And seeing her little clothes
A moment in time now gone
Touching her little toys
She so loved playing with
A moment in time now gone
Hearing her soft baby cry
Smelling how beautiful newborn babies smell
A moment in time now gone
Now my baby girl
Will start school soon
A moment in time which is now
• Ellerslie International Flower Show is New Zealand’s premier week-long Garden Party in Christchurch’s North Hagley Park from 10 to 14 March 2010. The Show celebrates Christchurch’s Garden City heritage and the best of national and international garden design. Check out the website for further information www.ellerslieflowershow.co.nz
For further information contact:
Ellerslie International Flower Show Communications Adviser
Jan McCarthy
03 941 6412 or 027 637 7912
