FT1402

What happens when genetic manipulation replaces natural evolution? We asked growers, retailers, regulators and consumers to describe their ideal flower. We then inquired what it takes for a plant to have a longer vase life and a more vivid colour and year-round availability for all occasions; we learned what the flower needs to sacrifice in order to smell better or to carry less bacteria on its leaves. Working together with geneticists, post-harvesting specialists, engineers and floral artists, we worked on achieving a conceptual super bloom: a hybrid creation engineered after extensive research in the Netherlands – the hub of floral innovation. Alluding to classic display methods exhibiting life science knowledge, the Monster Flower 02 presents a critical analysis of our quest for understanding the realm of the cut flower industry, and the boundaries between the natural and the artificial.