Assignments Interflora World Cup - Yvonne Roth, Switzerland
At the second day the designers have to make two assignments. The first is a table arrangement, named 'Green Tea for Two'. On a round table they have to create their masterpiece in two hours time, taking into account that the maximum height is two meters. The second preliminary event is a bridal bouquet with no size restrictions, but obviously the 'Oriental Pearl Bride' must still be able to carry the designers creation.
Green tea for two - Yvonne Roth
Green tea (chin. luchá) is a way of preparing tea. Unlike black tea, the leaves are not fermented. Green tea differs from black tea also in taste, ingredients and effect of the infusion. The tea plant has been cultivated in China for several thousand years. Around 600 B.C. this new way of making tea was invented. According to a legend, the Chinese discovered it by chance as early as 2700 B.C. It is told that, at that time, the Chinese emperor Shen Nung discovered the refreshing effect and taste of the drink after the wind had blown some leaves directly from the tree into his cup filled with hot water.
Design concept
Looking at tea plantations, one notices how the long rows move across the hilly landscape like caterpillars. The arrangement of the tea plants into long rows and the long rows into large fields results, in the designer’s eye, in an area of broad and horizontally echeloned lines. This analysis leads to a concept for table decoration. A number of bowls symbolize the rows of tea plants. The sum of all single parts in their horizontal arrangement with equal distance and different width of lines gives the impression of a Chinese green tea plantation.
Colour concept
Chinese tea flowers are well known as small pieces of art. Two parts of the plant, young leaf buds and a blossom, are tied together to form a - at first sight – unspectacular ball. In hot water, the blossoms open up and flavour the tea.
A tea flower is mostly tied together with finest tea leaves and either red lotus blossoms, orange calendula, red-pinkish amaranth or red peach blossoms. In this way the colour concept is based on the art of tea flowers. My main colour theme is red. Limiting my choice to only one basic colour allows showing the complete spectrum, which reaches from finest apricot-orange via red and pink all the way to pink-purple. To obtain an optimal proportion of colours, Goethe’s theory of light and colours is applied. Based on the brilliancy of colours, their proportional amount can be calculated. Shades of red stand for various emotions such as love, passion, temperament, joy, activity and movement. On the mental level, red supports tenacity and one’s readiness to face the challenges of life."
Every one, who loves to live in a orderly and yet playful world :-)
Oriental Pearl
Mankind has been fascinated by pearls and orchids for more than 2500 years. A pearl is a solid, mostly round object made of mother-of-pearl. The innermost layer (hypostracum) of mollusc shells is called mother-of-pearl. It is a biomineral consisting of calcium carbonate and organic material. This material protects the molluscs against their enemies. Due to its optical characteristics (it shimmers), it is being used in works of art like jewellery and decorative buttons. The colours of mother-of-pearl differ according to species and geographical origin. These pearls are first mentioned in the Chinese history book of Shu King, dating from 2206 B.C. (“King Yu received pearls from River Hwai as a tribute …”). The oldest documents about orchids stem from early China and describe the culture of orchids around 500 B.C. (Tsui Tse Kang; culture of orchids in Kum Cheong). The Chinese philosopher Confucius wrote about their smell and used for this the written character “lán”, meaning grace, love, purity, elegance and beauty. In general the Chinese art of gardening sees orchids as a symbol of love and beauty.
Design concept
Marriage symbolizes the unification of two individuals. In a bridal bouquet two parts which differ in size and material evolve. Each part emphasizes the qualities of the other part and both appear as a whole. The proportions of the two parts follow the golden ratio, so do the quantities of the used materials. The perception of the entire art form is increased by using only two main materials. The orchid as the queen of flowers is an optimal completion of mother-of-pearl, which in China symbolizes wealth, wisdom and dignity. It is indeed worthy to enhance the splendour of the bride’s most beautiful day.
Colour concept
A subtle, pale pink appears soft and gentle. Therefore, this colour is associated with femininity. It belongs to the shades of red and hence symbolizes love and passion, clearly suiting the bride. The fine shimmer of white iridescent mother-of-pearl, combined with the cream-pink of the orchids, leads to a noble colour concept.
