Exploring the symbolism and representation of flowers in fine art
Hanhininemi, Veera (2024)
2024
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2024120933850
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2024120933850
Tiivistelmä
The aim of this thesis was to explore how symbolism of flowers in art has evolved over time and what is the relevance of floral motifs in contemporary art. The thesis uses the Victorian language of flowers, floriography, to interpret the art and considers what has been the common understanding of floral symbolism at the time of the art works being done. Examples of flowers in art are presented from ancient Egypt to modern day.
Materials for the research were collected from books, articles, artist interviews, magazine articles, newspaper articles, blogs and documentaries. Works of Finnish contemporary artists Inari Krohn, Tuula Lehtinen and Heikki Marila were presented and the artists interviewed to get a better understanding of the current state of flowers in art in Finland.
The artwork part of the thesis addresses the symbolic use of floral motifs to also process, and express complex emotions tied to significant life events. By intertwining traditional symbolism with personal interpretations, the work offers an exploration of grief, loss, and resilience. This approach provided a commentary on the relevance of florals in contemporary art. The artwork part also touches on the method of mezzotint.
It was found that the flower motifs have stayed popular through centuries and most likely will not be leaving the field of contemporary art. The research revealed that the symbolism has changed over time. The artist interview responses suggested that the symbolism of flowers is somewhat irrelevant in the outcome of the artwork. Further research is needed to understand the symbolism of flowers and their use in art in present day.
Materials for the research were collected from books, articles, artist interviews, magazine articles, newspaper articles, blogs and documentaries. Works of Finnish contemporary artists Inari Krohn, Tuula Lehtinen and Heikki Marila were presented and the artists interviewed to get a better understanding of the current state of flowers in art in Finland.
The artwork part of the thesis addresses the symbolic use of floral motifs to also process, and express complex emotions tied to significant life events. By intertwining traditional symbolism with personal interpretations, the work offers an exploration of grief, loss, and resilience. This approach provided a commentary on the relevance of florals in contemporary art. The artwork part also touches on the method of mezzotint.
It was found that the flower motifs have stayed popular through centuries and most likely will not be leaving the field of contemporary art. The research revealed that the symbolism has changed over time. The artist interview responses suggested that the symbolism of flowers is somewhat irrelevant in the outcome of the artwork. Further research is needed to understand the symbolism of flowers and their use in art in present day.