Arrangement
Spring 2021
Photography: Jihun Kang
The Arrangement is a composition inspired by my personal East Asian background. Principles in Zen and the significance of nature were examined in the creation of the piece. A polished stainless steel structure stands juxtaposed with the natural floral elements within. I envisioned the structure in two scales, one tabletop, in a nod to traditional Japanese Ikebana, the other, architectural where the structure becomes pavilion-like in presence.
The stainless material was selected for its purity and cleanliness. The ability for the surface to reflect light was a medium I wanted to use to convey the feeling of vastness and possibility. Although the structure consists of rigid squares, the material treatment aids in the notion that dreams and creativity are endless, even if it appears to be encased in a structure.
The flowers set within the space could be swapped out with true foliage and trees in a pavilion setting but both stand to represent growth and personal expression. They are also the only elements of color in the structure serving as a focal point in the piece, a contrast to the sleek metal structure.
