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woven talanoa
Tomasi Boselawa
Mr Boselawa is a Fijian artist living in the Pacific Northwest of the U.S. His unique perspective on floral design is informed by his Fijian culture. Biography ...WOVEN TALANOA, or Woven Story, is about the connection of time, place, culture and art. In Woven Talanoa, the rattan ring above the base is fashioned using the curiously named “hairy weave”. Incorporating this weave into the design tells my story, a story of love for the arts of weaving and floral design. |
About this ProjectWoven Talanoa is constructed so that all paths lead to the same point. A dense foundation of green chrysanthemums (tros santini, also known as button mums) is used at the base of the arrangement and continues throughout the composition with kissing balls (orbs) at the apex to lead the eye to a single form. I chose to use several key components in the arrangement such as differing textures, forms, colors and lines found in nature. As I am confronted with modern challenges and stresses, I find comfort in recalling the vividly colorful memories of my upbringing in my native Fiji - particularly the mesmerizing bio-diversity among the birds of the rain forest and the marine life found in the surrounding seas. These natural wonders have had a tremendous influence in my use of colour in floral design.My colour inspiration for Woven Talanoa comes specifically from the native Fijian bird, the Kula (or Collard Lory - phigys solitarius). This piece is about presenting floral design as art in the purest and freshest way possible using flowers as the artistic medium. Nature bends a branch – with wind, rain, snow, the weight of fruit – much like a painter brushes a design on canvas. In its way, nature creates shapes and movements that may be fleeting or perennial, but are no less sublime in their artistry, in my estimation, than the artistic works created by people. My inspiration in Woven Talanoa is to pay homage to these graceful natural occurrences – be they nature’s briefest moments of spontaneous beauty or beauty resulting from centuries of natural artisanship. |
