03/05/2026
I had the great honour of being selected by Gert Voorjans and the KMSKA to be part of the exhibition In Full Bloom, where floral artists enter in to dialogue with the art collection of the museum.
Gert chose the artwork Ode à l’Oubli by Louise Bourgeois for me to work with, and it was love at first sight. Its softness, fragility, and subtle use of color immediately drew me in.
As I learned more, I discovered how she created this work using textiles from her past; materials already filled with memory. By cutting, rearranging, stitching, and composing them into geometric patterns and forms, she doesn’t just make something new, but reshapes what has been. The work doesn’t speak about memory, it becomes it.
In that process, I found a strong connection to my own practice with flowers. I also work with living materials that carry their own story. I compose and guide them, but try not to control them completely, following their natural movement instead.
In response, I translated her sense of order and imperfection into a shifting grid, where structure and openness coexist. Within those gaps, flowers emerge. Free, organic, and ever-changing.
I chose to work with seasonal flowers, because their fleeting nature holds so much power. A scent, or the brief presence of a bloom, can suddenly bring you back to a specific moment in time, and a linked emotion.
For me there lies the power of flowers: they are so temporary and fleeting, yet capable of holding something lasting.
What a week it has been! Full of encounters, conversations, and new impressions. I’m still processing it all, but I’ve loved every minute so far. I’m deeply grateful to Gert Voorjans, Carmen Willems, Annelien de Troij, Lief Meeus, and everyone at the KMSKA for the warmth, trust, and collaboration. And it was such a pleasure to meet so many talented fellow floral artists!
The exhibition is open until May 10th!
Have you visited? Would love to hear it in the comments! 🥰