Our Sunday floral story :
Festival Flora & conversations with world renowned floral artists Emily Thompson & Carolin Ruggaber
Today is a Sunday Floral Story with 2 x interviews with 2 of the most esteemed floral artists in the world : Emily Thompson & Carolin Ruggaber, prizewinners at the 7th Festival Flora which took place last week.
Both inventive, talented creative florists, they kindly gave me their time and conversations to unveil how they created such wonders and chat about their inspirations, processes & glances from participating in wonderful FLORA. Enjoy the conversations X
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WHAT IS FESTIVAL FLORA?
Every October, FLORA makes Cordoba a focal point & epicentre for the world's best floral artists who are interested in approaching nature with an art perspective. It is unique as it is the only place in the world where anyone can visit site-specific installations created with flowers & plants by international florists. Each participant applies for a place and those chosen, seriously stand out not only for their quality and international recognition but also for projecting an artistic and contemporary perspective on botany, beyond mere decoration or festivity which is refreshing.
This year's guiding theme was ‘Multispecies'. It aimed to reflect on a world that must move beyond the notion that humans are at the centre of everything and own the natural environment.
“We must begin to understand that we are part of an interconnected community of plants, flowers, animals, minerals, microorganisms, humans, or any other agents. In other words, we must understand that we are part of the multispecies,” explains María Van den Eynde, General Director of FLORA who describes the event as one which "talks about floral art and botany from a transgressive and contemporary point of view, but with the premise of highlighting the social, historical and artistic heritage of Córdoba. A project that works as a lever for the transformation of the city, with a programme that has room for avant-garde content, but also for actions closely linked to citizens."
Emilio Ruiz Mateo, artistic director of FLORA, highlights that "not only will we once again have the best floral artists in the world creating a work exclusively for Córdoba, but in the festival's activities, we will look at botany from the past, present and future: rediscovering historical heritage, studying the most recent water-saving techniques using AI or seeking new horizons with the imagination of the creators."
It is a clever few days of flowers. There are large format art installations by the 5 chosen floral creatives in some of Cordoba's most iconic courtyards. This year, the floral artist stars included so many of our favourite and inspirational people :
Emily Thompson from New York, Carolin Ruggaber of Berlin, Coyote Flowers from Toronto, This Humid House of Singapore, Eugenio Ampudia of Madrid.
There was also a programme of activities with interactive workshops & tours with the participants, concerts, performances and an inspired 'FLORA MINI' which involved children with the festival by inviting schools into the city centre to create floral installations too.
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I was blessed to chat with both internationally renowned flower artists, Emily Thompson who was awarded the Silver Medal & Public Vote Awards & Carolin Ruggaber who won the Patio Talent Award. Each of these incredible people provide so much inspiration in their daily work and ethos to us as flower designers. Their awards were so deserved and call me biased, but both Emily & Carolin's pieces were my favourites from their creativity to their production to their vision & inspiration for each of their considered pieces.
I hope that you enjoy reading my interviews with 2 very special humans whose work is so special to experience in the real - we all hope to meet in Ireland very soon too which would be exciting eh?
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EMILY THOMPSON
“Our reverence is not reserved only for the living world of plants and flowers, but also for their ancestors as we seek beauty in decay. It is a reversal of the usual order of things.” - Emily Thompson
Originally from Vermont, now resident of New York City, Emily Thompson has been hailed as 'the worlds best florist' by Shane Connolly. Much as we moan about social media, I feel fortunate that I discovered Emily's work through it, first through fashion show installations for Jason Wu & Ulla Johnson, mise-en-scénes and interviews in the New York Times magazine before delving deeper to know more about her floral art. Emily's ethos is to collaborate with the rough hand of nature, to use local materials and let nature combine with her style to impose beauty rather than overdress a space. Whether it is seed pods, lichens and branches, foraged weeds and trees, quince & rose bushes, Emily works with the best of the season for each of her events & occasions. She creates forests, meadows, bramble & blossom thickets, gorse & mimosa mountains and more.
I was lucky to meet her at the Festival of Gardens & Nature last May & so enjoyed how Emily humbly discussed her work & vision to 'always bring the eye back to the forest and the field, the swamp and the bog' and I can't wait to see her new book launching in May 2025 too.
LET’S CHAT TO EMILY THOMPSON ABOUT FESTIVAL FLORA
The three walled up windows, dressed dramatically with an ancient olive tree, cacti, pumpkins and more were brought to life through the imaginative sculpting by Emily. I so enjoyed watching the build and gradual reincarnation of each window as Emily & her team made an inspiring installation so deserved of it’s awards.
1. What inspired you to create your installation 'Inversions'?
I came at the project from two angles: first, the local landscape and its' history, and second the ediface itself. I examined the ornament of the Mihrab, the (maybe pilfered) Roman capitals on the columns of the original mosque, and considered the massive arched façade of the building that had formerly been open windows to allow the prayer to reach the patio, as women were not allowed inside. The landscape is dominated by olive groves, and I instantly wanted to find a dead olive tree. I'd seen images of diseased trees that were burnt to prevent contagion, and these images stuck with me as I braved the July heat (109 degrees F during my visit). Instead of cultivated trees, we were lucky to find a dead wild olive, called "acebuche", which pointed to a time before and after industrial agriculture, when the olive was a habitat and food source for all kinds of creatures (and will be again).
2. How did you source your plants, flowers, materials? Had you already preplanned all before arriving to Cordoba?
I started with the hunt for our tree, relying heavily on a wonderful local contact's eyes. Because of the extreme heat of the summers in Córdoba the plant and cut flower palette is extremely limited, but these limitations always push me toward better invention. I was interested in exaggerating an arid landscape, so we looked for materials that could thrive in the extreme conditions here.
3. How long did the build take and what quantities of ingredients were involved approximately?
We spent four days building the installation. We used about 2000 sago palm leaves, hundreds of grasses, pumpkins, cacti and one amazing fallen wild olive tree.
4. What would be the key message you would like visitors to remember who experienced 'Inversions'?
It's my hope that they see an exaltation of the living world, both alive and dead, and an intervention into this exquisite site that brings new life and eyes to it. The designs are meant to be windows, portals, meditations and trance-inducing visual immersions. The basic concept was to invert the architectural ornament historically fixed in stone into actual living materials to bring the building into a fleeting, ephemeral present.
5. Do you have any standout fun/interesting moments from being at Festival Flora?
The entire project was a fever dream, but I must say that witnessing as many as 5000 visitors per day engaging with the project is an extraordinary thing for a medium that is usually reserved for a small exclusive audience.
6. Did you get to meet your fellow florists between installations and hang out?
Of course! We were so lucky to have our friends from This Humid House also participating in the festival, and we also were able to connect with the other artists as much as possible. I loved meeting Eugenio Ampudia, Carolin Ruggaber and Lauren Sellen. It's truly a wonderful aspect of the festival as we usually only see other designers' work in photographs.
7. Have you any plans to come to Ireland soon?
I'm planning a trip to London in the spring of 2025 with the launch of my first book, all I need is an excuse to visit the Emerald Isle...
SEE EMILY’S WORK HERE - LOOK AT EMILY’S INSTAGRAM PORTFOLIO IN AWE HERE
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CAROLIN RUGGABER
"I am constantly inspired. Art consists often of deciding on the best idea and sticking with it. I am always a friend of implementing and tackling things directly, because if you have an idea for too long and don't implement it, then it gets boring again or covered by new ideas. That's why I like to put ideas into action right away if it is possible."
Whether it's voluptuous structures of poppies or surreal surrounds of hydrangea heads, sets of sand & desert or roses adorning sculptures of rosy apples, or indeed botanical utopias, Carolin's style & direction is bringing new journeys in how we think about artistry with blooms. Originally from the Black Forest, she is now based in Berlin where she manages to marry a deep love of nature with all of the influences of a big city. Her signature pieces are characterised by a fusion of colour, texture & form. She eclectically mixes flowers, foliage, fruit, unconventional ingredients in her stunning large scale but simple installations. I think for me, it's her mix of traditional floristry meeting modern artistry meeting a certain natural wildness that allows each piece stand out each project she produces. and creates simple installations that create impact.
She is fascinated by the relationship between man and nature and tries to bring the fragility of this very relationship into focus in her floral designs and I was delighted to chat with her about her prize winning piece 'Fusion' in Festival Flora.
LET’S CHAT TO CAROLIN RUGGABER ABOUT FESTIVAL FLORA
“With our installation Fusión we invite viewers into a living, breathing ecosystem where nature leads the experience and technology plays a supporting role, fostering a deeper connection with the natural world.”- Carolin Ruggaber
The surreal circular sculpture in fern and moss surrounded by a strategic use of mirrors with a Hans Zimmer soundtrack created by Carolin, was mesmerising in form. I loved the way the natural elements had a brilliant coexistence with the mirrored structure because it redirected & instensified the light which then kept the plant life light cycles moving along even when sitting in a large city courtyard experience by thousands of visiting folk. Carolin gives an inspiring and interesting insight into both the production and process of creating 'Fusion' and I hope that you enjoy the read.
1. What inspired you to create your installation 'FUSIÓN'?
"FUSIÓN" was born from the idea of blending nature and technology to create a living, breathing ecosystem that thrives on multi-species collaboration. The Patio de Orive, with its natural elements like light, white walls, and existing plant life, became the perfect canvas for this vision. We wanted to honor the natural beauty already present in the space and elevate it.
During our early explorations, we discovered the delicate Adiantum fern growing in the patio. Its subtle presence inspired us to ask deeper questions: How do these plants communicate and interact with each other? How can we enhance these natural relationships? Our aim was to craft a space that not only highlights these connections but also mirrors the balance and harmony we find in nature.
At its core, "FUSIÓN" is about celebrating the synergy between different life forms and their environments, showing how technology and nature can coexist in a way that feels organic, interconnected, and alive.
2. How did you source your plants, flowers, materials? Had you already preplanned all before arriving to Cordoba?
For this installation, we focused on using only living varieties of plants like the ones already growing in the Patio, integrating the natural ecosystem rather than introducing new species. The planning was done in our Berlin studio, but the production was skillfully executed by the Festival Flora team. All the materials were prepared and ready for us upon our arrival in Cordoba, which allowed for a smooth installation process.
3. How long did the build take and what quantities of ingredients were involved approximately? Did you bring your own team too?
The installation took four days to complete, and we used approximately 4,200 living plants. This project presented unique challenges, as we had to develop new techniques and intricate technical elements like moving mirrors. We brought two members of our team—a designer and an engineer— who collaborated closely with a dedicated group of assistants from across Europe. Their enthusiasm and commitment were truly inspiring, and together we created a vibrant installation. After the event, the plants will be donated to the people of Cordoba to enrich their patios.
4. What would be the key message you would like visitors to remember who experienced ‘FUSIÓN'?
The key message we want visitors to take away from "FUSIÓN" is the powerful synergy between art, science, and nature. We envision a future where biodiversity is celebrated and technology harmonizes with the natural world. By experiencing the installation, we hope to inspire visitors to rethink how creativity and innovation can support and protect ecosystems for future generations.
At its heart, "FUSIÓN" embodies collaboration—between species, between technology and nature, and between humans and the environment. It invites everyone to imagine a future where all forms of life work together to promote the planet’s well-being.
We also want to highlight the idea that technology can enhance natural systems. The mirrors in our installation are not just decorative; they play a vital role in the ecosystem by redirecting and amplifying light. This ensures that every plant receives the optimal conditions for photosynthesis, allowing even those in shaded areas to thrive. Ultimately, "FUSIÓN" serves as a demonstration of how human innovation can coexist with nature, supporting and elevating the natural processes that sustain life.
5. Do you have any standout fun/interesting moments from being at Festival Flora?
One of the standout moments at Festival Flora was the incredible camaraderie we shared with fellow florists, assistants, and supporters who came together from all corners of the globe to bring our vision to life. The collaboration was truly beautiful.
After we completed the installation, witnessing the reflections and lights come to life was a magical experience. It was incredibly moving to see some of our assistants with tears in their eyes, reflecting the emotion and pride we all felt in that moment. Working together towards a shared goal created an unforgettable bond among us, and it reminded us of the profound impact that art and nature can have when combined.
6. Did you get to meet your fellow florists between installations and hang out?
Hanging out with fellow florists was one of the highlights of the experience. We all understand how demanding our job can be, and it’s rare to meet with each other in person. It was wonderful to share stories, ideas, and laughter with like-minded individuals who are just as passionate about their craft.
7. Have you any plans to come to Ireland soon? Or what interesting work will you be creating next?
I would absolutely love to visit Ireland someday! I've never been, and it would be a dream to work with the local flora and fauna. The unique landscapes and rich biodiversity there are incredibly inspiring. As for upcoming projects, I’m excited to continue exploring innovative ways to blend art and nature, creating installations that foster a deeper connection with the environment.
SEE CAROLIN’S WORK HERE - LOOK AT CAROLIN’S INSTAGRAM PORTFOLIO IN AWE HERE
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I just want to say a massive thanks a million to both Emily & Carolin for sparing the time to chat to me after such a momentous week in Cordoba. It was very special to write about these talented women who are leading the way in floral artistry worldwide.Thanks so so much to you both for sharing your work, thoughts and process. I feel blessed with this Sunday floral story. Truly. Ruth X