Website:http://www.nmh.gov.tw/en-us/Exhibition/Content.aspx?Para=0|22|732&unkey=53
An annual flower show jointly hosted since 1984 by the National Museum of History, the Chinese Women Orchid Art Association and the Chinese Floral Arts Foundation will again open in Taipei on Oct. 4. This year's show, entitled "To Dream in Flowery Bowers: The 2013 Flower Arrangement Exhibition,” aims to create a dreamlike world of flowers that is free and romantic by focusing on floral creation with and without containers.
The venue will be divided into two sections, with one displaying flowers in containers and the other displaying floral arrangements without containers. The focus in the former section is that the flower containers symbolize "luxury homes” and "peaceful residences” for flowers, while floral works without containers feature flowers and plants arranged freely without the traditional framing.
In traditional Chinese floral art, the containers for the flowers are closely related to the floral arrangements themselves, for they are not only the "root” of life the flowers depend on, but also the starting point for floral creation. As time went by, they have also developed into a kind of "treasure” that has a profound cultural meaning and value for art appreciation.
However, vessels are not necessary in flower arrangements. When floral artists create without vessels or choose to keep the focus on the living art piece, they have to overcome the challenge of keeping the flowers and plants fresh and alive.
The flower show will remain open at the National Museum of History until Oct. 27.
