Flora

For this assignment I was asked to design a high-volume showpiece from second-hand and rejected materials. I chose artificial flowers that could no longer be sold because of manufacturing faults, as well as flowers I found in charity shops. I was interested in giving material that would normally be discarded an entirely new function and appearance.

Starting from my first sketch, I explored how to create volume and shape around the body. I built a transparent cast around a mannequin using old plastic sheets. By heating the plastic with a hairdryer, I could mould it to the body and attach the separate sections. I then glued the artificial flowers onto this base one by one.

The large quantity of flowers created a bold, colourful and voluminous whole. What I especially like about this project is how closely the result matches the idea in my first sketch. To me, it shows how discarded materials can become something new and extraordinary.